Are They Pyramiding?

[T33's Torts]

So, I recently rescued 2 sibling sulcatas. They are 9 monthes and there's one girl and a boy. In the following pictures, the boy is bigger, I'll do the group pics first then the boy, then the girl. I'm more concerned about her. She's a bit round... They're both lighter in color but I think that's just genes. (?) But I'm mainly worried that they're already pyramiding. I got them from a friend who had them in a glass tank in a bathroom. Way to much humidity and no sunlight. They were feeding on all fruits and veggies. They are now living with my other babies and are on a steady diet. So here are the pictures. Thank you to all that are willing to help!! (There's 3 of the boy and the rest are the female)

 

[ShellyTurtlesCats]

Yes. The do appear to be.

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~ Shelly ~

 

[RuthJanice]

Yes they are pyramiding. Do you soak them? Are they housed together? Tom has some great tips on raising healthy Sulcatas. The link is below.

http://tortoiseforum.org/thread-79895.html

 

[T33's Torts]

Yep. They now are living life the same way as my other sulcatas! My other babies are perfectly smooth and are darker.. Will it stop now that they have proper care?

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And they are housed with my 3 other babies.

 

[sibi]

The first thing you should always do when you receive a new tort is to isolate (quarantine) them until they have been tested and observed for a period of at least 6 months or longer. When all danger of disease and parasites are satisfied, then introduce them to your other torts.

Since your new torts are pyramiding, all you can do is stop further pyramiding from forming. In the pics, both torts look very dry. How often are you giving them warm soaks? Since they are still under a year old, they should be soaked in warm water twice daily for 20-30 minutes. Also, their enclosure should have 4 different temps; the lowest being 80+ degrees. Humidity should be 80%. Tom's threads would better explain this. If you haven't read them already, i strongly suggest you do. With a combination of a good diet, frequent soaks, exercise, high humidity, and sun or uvb rays, your new torts should look healthy before long. Btw, have you taken them to a vet to be checked out for parasites and worms?

 

[Dizisdalife]

There is some pyramiding, but not as bad as what my tortoise had at that same age. I was able to get new growth to come in smooth by following the recommendations in the threads that Sylvia listed in her signature.

 

[T33's Torts]

Hmm.. they have 3 different temp. areas and a cool spot in the middle. I have been soaking them for 30 minutes every other day (Sat, Sun, Mon, Wed, and Fri). They missed their soak yesterday because it was very cold and I hate to change their body temp like that. I have read Toms thread...

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Yep! Clean bill of heath, a side from being a bit skinny. And I isolated them for a good 3 weeks. I was informed that would be enough... maybe I should've longer.. But thank you for all the great info!!

 

[Tom]

The pyramiding is minor. I wouldn't even worry about it. One of your comments did worry me though. You said the bathroom where they were formerly housed was way too humid. Are you aware that these are not desert animals and they are supposed to be housed warm and very humid? Sulcatas hatch during the rainy season over in Africa. It's hot, humid, rainy, wet and marshy. THESE are the conditions that prevent pyramiding.

I also don't understand your comment about changing their body temperature to soak them. On colder days, I just soak them somewhere warm, like in their enclosure for example. I use warm water for the soak, so I'm not clear on how their body temperature would be changing. Would you be warming them up by soaking them, or cooling them off?

Not trying to grill you here. Just trying to be helpful. Both of these things directly relate to your original question and if you share some of the common misconceptions that are out there in the world, we might be able to help you and your tortoises.

 

[T33's Torts]

Their enclosure is fairly humid.. I have bo way of checking exactly HOW humid because my gauge broke. Tge bathroom was pretty ridiculously humid all the time. (Like foggy, as if you just took a hot shower) It was gross. And I read somewhere (not on tortoise forum) that rapidly changing their body temperature is bad for something.. Is that true? I was never very clear on that, so I skip very cold days. They usually soak in a big tortoise water dish over the grass. I'm also expanding their cage over the nect few months. I'll post a picture when its complete! ! I'll definitely do more research on the humidity and the heating/uv lamps. I was only conserned because my other torts are fine. Thanks!

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*no way of checking..

 

[Dizisdalife]

The bathroom humidity was not too good for the bathroom walls, but it was okay for the tortoises. If your tortoises are being kept at the right temperature, say 85F to 90F, and you put them in water that is 85F to 95F there isn't any shock on their body temps.

 

[T33's Torts]

Hmm.. okay!! I'll adjust my humidity as soon as my gauge comes! I ordered it yesterday!! Thanks for all the help guys!!