I'm not a land tortoise person, so...

[AST-Loch]

What is pyramiding? I am more of a snapping turtle dude, and they don't get pyramiding, unless the ones I've seen were all taken great care of.

I know I'll probably catch alot of crap for not knowing about tortoise diseases and all.

 

[Josh]

remember, there is no dumb question. i hope no one gives you crap
try reading up here: http://www.turtlestuff.com/pyramid.html

 

[AST-Loch]

Oh, that's what that it. That's horrible!

I felt pretty bad, especially for the one who was all thin and his scutes were growing every which way, and flipping up.

Thanks for the link!

 

[LeopardLover]

Pyramiding is where the scutes raise. Most common case is unproper lighting. Also unproper diet feeding just iceburg lettuce or feeding protien. ( dog food or cat food ) Hope that helps. : )

Jacy

 

[Iluvemturts]

Aquatic turtles can get it too. Mostly its from over feeding and improper lighting. I has a RES that had it bad and then slowly she shed those piled up scutes and looks more normal. Sadly a tortoise doesnt shed the scutes.
Its hard not to have some minor pyramiding but that doesn't excuse excessive pyramiding.

 

[T-P]

pyramiding is caused through bad care, and bad diet or over feeding.
The tortoise shell scutes will raise, and their shell will look a real mess.
some tortoises their scutes just raise up, some their shell scutes will raise but they will be squashed at the same time.

 

[Jacqui]

Isn't there also thought that humidity is a factor? Such as in the redfoots?

 

[T-P]

humidity can be confusing, if its too high it can cause problems if its too low it can cause problems too