Oh no that makes me sad. But yes I will be doing my best to make sure he grows well. I come to read the forum for pretty much every question I have.Yes your tortoise has been kept too dry previously and is starting significant pyramiding. But it is the very beginning stages of growth for your tortoise, so if you keep it in a proper, humid chamber and soak daily, following the care sheet here under the sulcata section, the new growth will be smooth from now on and the pyramiding on that small amount of growth will be hardly noticeable.
Please be aware that most all the info out there on care for tortoises is very out-of-date. Please read the post on how to raise a healthy sulcata, and follow us here on the forum. I know of no other source that is giving out the latest, and best advice.
Here is a picture of one of my sulcatas that is four months old for comparison. You can see how different the growth between the scutes (where growth expands) is. this is what you want to see as far as smooth new growth.
View attachment 287524
Keep in mind that correcting this at such an early stage can totally change this. Although the old growth is permanent, it is so young that that small amount of growth as it grows will be almost unnoticable compared to the amount of growing yet to happen. Just a little bump in the center of the scutes in a year! It is when pyramiding progresses on a growing tortoise where the new growth seams are wider than the original scute aerolae, that it is more difficult. Because in those cases, the pyramiding has actually changed the plane the vertebral bones are growing in, and new growth will tend to follow that plane and smooth out much less. But yours is so young yet and grown so little your tortoise will be fine if you provide correct conditions.Oh no that makes me sad. But yes I will be doing my best to make sure he grows well. I come to read the forum for pretty much every question I have.
Thank you so much! I am about to move him to a new enclosure that is 38inL x 28inW x 13in H. Any advice on how to keep his humidity high in there without buying a mister?Keep in mind that correcting this at such an early stage can totally change this. Although the old growth is permanent, it is so young that that small amount of growth as it grows will be almost unnoticable compared to the amount of growing yet to happen. Just a little bump in the center of the scutes in a year! It is when pyramiding progresses on a growing tortoise where the new growth seams are wider than the original scute aerolae, that it is more difficult. Because in those cases, the pyramiding has actually changed the plane the vertebral bones are growing in, and new growth will tend to follow that plane and smooth out much less. But yours is so young yet and grown so little your tortoise will be fine if you provide correct conditions.
Yes, he is pyramiding due to poor treatment in a previous home, keep him humid and not dry and make sure not to feed him to much. One of my tortoises has the same problemHello!
I got my tortoise, Jim, about two weeks ago and he's about 4 months old. I am wondering if he (or she) began pyramiding before I got him. And any tips to help stop that. I keep his enclosure humid and soak him every day.
Thanks!
13" is too short. You need a closed chamber. Heat and lights must hang inside the chamber or you will always be drying the enclosure out as it is warmer than outside the enclosure. You need to keep the warm, humid air inside. Misters don't work as well. I use orchid bark substrate that is kept moist. The chamber is always at about 90% humidity. I also keep lots of live plants in there as natural hides, food, and they help keep up humidity.Thank you so much! I am about to move him to a new enclosure that is 38inL x 28inW x 13in H. Any advice on how to keep his humidity high in there without buying a mister?
I see the picture and why do you think he is pyramiding? the bottom of his shell looks like it is turning up ...is that it? because the top of his shell looks fine like my 2 tortoises lookHello!
I got my tortoise, Jim, about two weeks ago and he's about 4 months old. I am wondering if he (or she) began pyramiding before I got him. And any tips to help stop that. I keep his enclosure humid and soak him every day.
Thanks!
I don't see it either, but i take your word for it. I'm not a experienced tortoise person.