Pyramid advice on baby sulcata, please

Miranda16

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Hello, I have adopted a baby sulcata this passed weekend from someone who didnt have time for him/her. Does it look like Thor maybe be pyramiding? When i got Thor he/she was very very dry and so was her habitat. Since ive only had Thor for 4 days now ive given him/her 2 warm soam baths and plan to do so for maybe 2-3 times a week? Also been spraying down the habitat with water to keep humidity up. Any thoughts if so pyramiding or suggestions?

Thank you

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CarolM

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Hello, I have adopted a baby sulcata this passed weekend from someone who didnt have time for him/her. Does it look like Thor maybe be pyramiding? When i got Thor he/she was very very dry and so was her habitat. Since ive only had Thor for 4 days now ive given him/her 2 warm soam baths and plan to do so for maybe 2-3 times a week? Also been spraying down the habitat with water to keep humidity up. Any thoughts if so pyramiding or suggestions?

Thank you

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As Thor is still so young I would soak everyday for about 30 minutes especially as Thor has been started off so dry. I'll leave the comments on the pyramiding to the experts. As that part I am still learning myself.
 

Melis

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Welcome! What type of enclosure are you keeping him in? A closed chamber would work best to keep in humidity to combat that pyramiding. Pics could help us give suggestions. And I agree with carol about the daily soaks. Have you read the caresheets in the sulcata section?
 

Miranda16

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Welcome! What type of enclosure are you keeping him in? A closed chamber would work best to keep in humidity to combat that pyramiding. Pics could help us give suggestions. And I agree with carol about the daily soaks. Have you read the caresheets in the sulcata section?
He is in the zoo med wooded habitat. I did add pictures, are they not showing? Also, i have read upon the caresheets. Thank you!
 

xXtortoiseloverXx

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It is pyramiding, what u are doing is good, but make sure u cover the top of enclosure, so it can hold the humidity better, give him variety of food, calcium power once week or twice week, sun light or uvb and basking light. As long as u do the right thing , pyramiding is ok, once it is pyramiding it is hard to turn back to smooth shell.
 

Melis

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He is in the zoo med wooded habitat. I did add pictures, are they not showing? Also, i have read upon the caresheets. Thank you!
I can see pics of him, but not an enclosure. I don't believe zoo med sells anything "enclosed" like this forum recommends. Does it have an open or screened top? That won't allow for the proper humidity needed to stop the pyramiding. Also what size is it?
 

CarolM

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He is in the zoo med wooded habitat. I did add pictures, are they not showing? Also, i have read upon the caresheets. Thank you!
Welcome by the way.
Thor is very cute. And I am glad that you have taken on the responsibilty of making sure that Thor will be well cared for.
 

Miranda16

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I can see pics of him, but not an enclosure. I don't believe zoo med sells anything "enclosed" like this forum recommends. Does it have an open or screened top? That won't allow for the proper humidity needed to stop the pyramiding. Also what size is it?
Yes, my bad ill upload some right now!
 

Miranda16

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Welcome by the way.
Thor is very cute. And I am glad that you have taken on the responsibilty of making sure that Thor will be well cared for.
Thank you very much! I plan to do the best i can for the rest of my life with Thor.
 

Miranda16

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To the left is where it keeps the most moist and under the hiding spot thats all the way to the right of the box. I spray other areas that seem to dry up during the day as needed. 20180314_092320.jpg20180314_092330.jpg20180314_092342.jpg
 

Bee62

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Hello, baby sulcatas must have a daily soak for 30 minutes. When Thor was started dry he needs all humidity he can get to stop his pyramiding ( yes he has ).
Pyramiding is only what you see on his "outside". The dry start could have done damage to his organs. To help him recover he needs his soaks and a humidity level of 85- 90 %.
You can`t do this with an open enclosure. Try to cover the enclosure and measure temps and humidity with a digital thermo/hygrometer.
The high humidity must go hand in hand with warm temps. Basking spot 104 F, enclosure 85 F and nighttime temps never lower than 81F or Thor could get a respiration infect when it is too cold at night.
 
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Miranda16

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Hello, baby sulcatas must have a daily soak for 30 minutes. When Thor was started dry he needs all humidity he can get to stop his pyramiding ( yes he has ).
Pyramiding is only what you see on his "outside". The dry start could have done damage to his organs. To help him recover he needs his soaks and a humidity level of 85- 90 %.
You can`t do this with an open topped enclosure. Try to cover the enclosure and measure temps and humidity with a digital thermo/hygrometer.
The high humidity must go hand in hand with warm temps. Basking spot 104 F, enclosure 85 F and nighttime temps never lower than 81F or Thor could get a respiration infect when it is too cold at night.
Thank you for information! Its very helpful. Ill be giving him the daily soak baths. I just wasnt 100% sure if daily was needed or a few times a week. For basking i have those temps correct for the day and night time. For the humidity ill be making sure it stays 85-90.
 

Bee62

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Thank you for information! Its very helpful. Ill be giving him the daily soak baths. I just wasnt 100% sure if daily was needed or a few times a week. For basking i have those temps correct for the day and night time. For the humidity ill be making sure it stays 85-90.
Good you took Thor. You are a good tort mummy.:)
 

Markw84

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@Miranda16 Yes, Thor does have what I would call severe pyramiding. However your tortoise is still quite small and when you get him in a correct enclosure and proper care, you can smooth out new growth quite quickly at this size. As Thor grows, by the time he is 16" or so, it will be barely noticeable if you correct things now.

The tortoise house you have will not work for a sulcata. I would also put in the new enclosure some potted plants to give hiding spots, sight barriers, and will help keep humidity.

For ideas, read this article I wrote for raising a "monsoon tortoise" It is actually written for sulcata, leopard, or star tortoises. It will help you understand how to keep them growing healthy.

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-star-tortoise.159167/unread
 

teresaf

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While keeping up humidity please verify all dark corners and hides are at LEAST 80...85 if you suspect a cold coming on...humidity will stop pyramiding and bad internal health(which can cause death) but he cold get really sick if you don't keep the temps up with the humidity....
 

Miranda16

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@Miranda16 Yes, Thor does have what I would call severe pyramiding. However your tortoise is still quite small and when you get him in a correct enclosure and proper care, you can smooth out new growth quite quickly at this size. As Thor grows, by the time he is 16" or so, it will be barely noticeable if you correct things now.

The tortoise house you have will not work for a sulcata. I would also put in the new enclosure some potted plants to give hiding spots, sight barriers, and will help keep humidity.

For ideas, read this article I wrote for raising a "monsoon tortoise" It is actually written for sulcata, leopard, or star tortoises. It will help you understand how to keep them growing healthy.

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-star-tortoise.159167/unread
Wow, thank you so much. Ill be reading it!
 

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