HELP ME CONVINCE (pyramided?)

elythefetus211 · Sep 1, 2014

Hi I got my husband a tortoise about 2 years ago, we named him/her koopa. About some months back I've noticed rising of the shell and im sure its beginning to pyramid?!!? I work all week as well as my husband, i have been trying to convince him to adopt koopa out to an experienced person and convince him the tortoise is pyramiding. I just need experts to confirm what im thinking is true! If im wrong please tell me

wellington · Sep 1, 2014

He isn't starting to,pyramid, he is pyramided. There is no way to reverse this, but you can help the new growth to start growing smoother. He is too big to put him in a closed chamber, but a humid night box for sleeping would help. Reading Toms threads below will help explain how he should have been kept when little. If you search for Toms night box threads you will see how to build a night time humid sleeping hide.

elythefetus211 · Sep 1, 2014

thanks for the advice!

christinaland128 · Sep 1, 2014

wellington said:
He isn't starting to,pyramid, he is pyramided. There is no way to reverse this, but you can help the new growth to start growing smoother. He is too big to put him in a closed chamber, but a humid night box for sleeping would help. Reading Toms threads below will help explain how he should have been kept when little. If you search for Toms night box threads you will see how to build a night time humid sleeping hide.

@wellington the thread is missing

wellington · Sep 1, 2014

Not sure what you mean by thread is missing. I didn't post the thread link to Toms night box thread if that's what you are talking a out. But, I went and found it, so here it is.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/

Yvonne G · Sep 1, 2014

Hi elythefetus211, and welcome to the Forum!

Just because a tortoise is growing a few bumps on his carapace, that's no reason to re-home him. Its obvious your husband enjoys having a tortoise around. The convincing you need to do isn't to re-home the tortoise, but to build it an outdoor pen. I can tell by the tortoise's color that he's lived in the house his whole life. I'm really surprised you haven't had problems with MBD.

Tortoises start to pyramid during their first year of life. In the real world, baby tortoises hatch out during the monsoon season. There is plenty of grass and weeds available to feed him, and the earth is moist and humid to help him grow smoothly. Also, they stay hidden in burrows where it is moist.

There's nothing you can do for the pyramiding now, but you CAN get him outside into a safe and well-planted habitat where he can have the benefit of real sunshine.

Maro2Bear · Sep 1, 2014

Hi Ely, you say you picked up "Koopa" two years ago, but didnt say the size or condition he was when you got him. What was his condition then? Other than the lack of humid conditions, do you take reasonably good care as far as feeding, room to romp, indoor/outdoor enclosures, etc? I'm with Yvonne, no need to re-home, just do everything that you can to take proper care! Good luck. Btw, coming here to this Forum is a big step in improving his care. Lots of valuable information under the Sulcata care pages.

johnsonnboswell · Sep 1, 2014

It may seem that letting a tortoise roam through the house offers plenty of space and a good environment, but it can't offer the humidity, proper substrate for feet & leg development, temps or UVB rays that the animal needs. I don't think this tortoise needs to be rehomed, but it does need a proper home within your house, a real set up, and an outdoor habitat too.

elythefetus211 · Sep 1, 2014

When we first got her she was about 5 months shy from being a yearling and seemed very healthy no problems up untill we left her with our brother in law for about 6-7 months that i saw the bumps big she shows no signs of being sick her shell is hard and walks good no limps or anything, she was in an outside set up according to my husband and now that we have her with us i worry we didnt leave her with my brother in law just to leave her we had to move into a apartment but were forced to bring her home because she was stolen by some kids and i am trying to figure out how to keep her comfortable n safe in a one bedroom apartment

elythefetus211 · Sep 1, 2014

I don't want to sound like a mean tortoise hater

im just scared she'll die or get really sick my husband works a lot and so im left with having to take care of her and i dont have a clue

rearlpettway · Sep 1, 2014

Yvonne G said:
Hi elythefetus211, and welcome to the Forum!

Just because a tortoise is growing a few bumps on his carapace, that's no reason to re-home him. Its obvious your husband enjoys having a tortoise around. The convincing you need to do isn't to re-home the tortoise, but to build it an outdoor pen. I can tell by the tortoise's color that he's lived in the house his whole life. I'm really surprised you haven't had problems with MBD.

Tortoises start to pyramid during their first year of life. In the real world, baby tortoises hatch out during the monsoon season. There is plenty of grass and weeds available to feed him, and the earth is moist and humid to help him grow smoothly. Also, they stay hidden in burrows where it is moist.

There's nothing you can do for the pyramiding now, but you CAN get him outside into a safe and well-planted habitat where he can have the benefit of real sunshine.

What color are Sulcata's that live indoors and what is the color of Sulcata's that live outdoors?

Sent from Rodney Earl Pettway's iPad using TortForum

Yvonne G · Sep 1, 2014

Do you have a balcony or a small privacy area outside? It really doesn't sound like you have a good place for a large sulcata. So maybe I spoke too soon.

elythefetus211 · Sep 1, 2014

No i don't my manager allows me to take her outside to graze on grass and i take her for up to an hour everyday i have a medium size dog house with bedding and a uva light but im not sure what more to do or add i soak her 2xs a week and have been adding calcium and fiber to her diet but she seems very angry at me she charges at my feet and follows me around idk what to do

my husband loves koopa but its a bit hard caring for her

elythefetus211 · Sep 1, 2014

She used to roam free in the yard over at my in-laws but was forced to bring her into my apartment because some neighborhood kids broke in to steal her and were planning on putting it in a tank with water so we took her in fear that they might do it again :/

elythefetus211 · Sep 1, 2014

Here are the pics of the first day i got koopa

elythefetus211 · Sep 1, 2014

A pic of her now

Clamhandsmcgee · Sep 1, 2014

It sounds like you caught the neighborhood kids, so I would think it would be unlikely that they would do it again. In my opinion, a sulcata tortoise needs to spend a lot of time outside.

kathyth · Sep 1, 2014

I would say the biggest problem you have, is owning a tortoise that will get very large and you cannot accommodate the size and outdoor space.
Would your husband allow you to adopt him to a home with a large yard, and a good Sulcata owner, for the sake of the tortoise?

omgdoubletacos · Sep 1, 2014

She was already really pryamided when you got her it looks like...

johnsonnboswell · Sep 2, 2014

She needs UVB too.

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