Basking lamp issue

[debz]

Hi , we have a Hermons tort we have had him 4 years now he lives in doors but has the run of the down stairs so has plenty of room to exercise.
We live in wales and the weather is very unpredictable but he goes outside when weather permits.
The reason for my question is he had a little pyramiding and we are now unsure as to whether its due to his basking lamp or is there another cause can anyone advise us please .
I must admit we did Not read up before having him but want to do the best we can now we have him
We got a lot of info off the tortoise trust website after having him
I am Not worried about his diet etc as the vet said that we have a good balance of food for him but we really want to sort out the basking issue / or other cause so any advise would be really appreciated
Thank you in advance

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

Pyramiding is caused by keeping a BABY tortoise too dry. You can't change that now at 4 years of age. There's really nothing wrong with a little pyramiding. Don't worry about it. He's beautiful as is.

 

[debz]

Thank you for your reply that really puts my mind at rest.

 

[Gillian M]

Hi , we have a Hermons tort we have had him 4 years now he lives in doors but has the run of the down stairs so has plenty of room to exercise.
We live in wales and the weather is very unpredictable but he goes outside when weather permits.
The reason for my question is he had a little pyramiding and we are now unsure as to whether its due to his basking lamp or is there another cause can anyone advise us please .
I must admit we did Not read up before having him but want to do the best we can now we have him
We got a lot of info off the tortoise trust website after having him
I am Not worried about his diet etc as the vet said that we have a good balance of food for him but we really want to sort out the basking issue / or other cause so any advise would be really appreciated
Thank you in advance

A very warm welcome to the forum! Please read the "Beginners Mistakes" Thread as well as the care sheets available, and ask ANY when in doubt/in need of help.

How about posting pics of your tort and his enclosure, so as to enable us to help you more easily.

Give your tort daily soaks in warm water to stop the pyramiding where it is.

 

[debz]

Thank you, I started soaking h


Thank you, he sits in his water dish daily but I am now soaking him daily our vet said that it has halted four years about four years ago which is roughly when we had him.
His night time enclosure is a vivarium which we now know is not suitable but he is out and about all day and only sleeps in there.
His outside enclosure is I think a rabbit run all sold to us when we bought him .
We know he is in good health and happy because our vet checked him on Wednesday.
I will put some photos up of him so you can see him and any advice you can offer will be gratefully received.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Welcome!
We have a few members that also live in Wales that might be able to give some advice.
@Lyn W

 

[Lyn W]

Hi and welcome,
I have a leopard who needs slightly different care conditions but when he was found, he had pyramiding as well. It doesn't bother him or affect his health in anyway. After joining the forum I started soaking daily - I don't need to but because I am in work all day and never see him drink, I like to make sure he his hydrated and it's a way to check him over, but I also make sure his temps are warm enough so he doesn't get a RSI. His new growth looks smoother, so hopefully it won't get any worse.

A viv should be OK for night time, but if you post a picture experienced members can advise on any improvements you could make if any. Is his basking bulb a source of essential uvb too? I use an Aradia D3 mercury vapour bulb (MVB) which gives heat light and uvb in one bulb at night I use a ceramic heat emitter run through a thermostat to keep temps even but you make not need that with a Hermanns. Check the caresheet under Species Specific for diet temps humidity and substrate etc, The Beginners Mistakes thread (link below) will help you avoid problems encountered by others and the Enclosures thread has some grea ideas.

It isn't recommended that torts have the run of the house because they will eat absolutely anything and there have been some sad tales here about torts who have choked on plastic bags,dust bunnies or swallowed sharp objects, coins, buttons etc.Some have been lucky and survivied after running up expensive vet bills. There have also been awful stories about torts getting heads crushed in doors too or attacked by dogs and cats. Lots of hazards even in the cleanest homes for a litte curious tort. My tort is too big for a viv or table so he has his own room which has been adapted for him.

Looking forward to hearing more about and maybe seeing your tort?

 

[debz]

Hi I will upload pics when I work out how to do it I'm Not very PC say in fact this is sent from my phone as I can't find it on the PC, but I Will conquer it

 

[debz]

Hi and welcome,
I have a leopard who needs slightly different care conditions but when he was found, he had pyramiding as well. It doesn't bother him or affect his health in anyway. After joining the forum I started soaking daily - I don't need to but because I am in work all day and never see him drink, I like to make sure he his hydrated and it's a way to check him over, but I also make sure his temps are warm enough so he doesn't get a RSI. His new growth looks smoother, so hopefully it won't get any worse.

A viv should be OK for night time, but if you post a picture experienced members can advise on any improvements you could make if any. Is his basking bulb a source of essential uvb too? I use an Aradia D3 mercury vapour bulb (MVB) which gives heat light and uvb in one bulb at night I use a ceramic heat emitter run through a thermostat to keep temps even but you make not need that with a Hermanns. Check the caresheet under Species Specific for diet temps humidity and substrate etc, The Beginners Mistakes thread (link below) will help you avoid problems encountered by others and the Enclosures thread has some grea ideas.

It isn't recommended that torts have the run of the house because they will eat absolutely anything and there have been some sad tales here about torts who have choked on plastic bags,dust bunnies or swallowed sharp objects, coins, buttons etc.Some have been lucky and survivied after running up expensive vet bills. There have also been awful stories about torts getting heads crushed in doors too or attacked by dogs and cats. Lots of hazards even in the cleanest homes for a litte curious tort. My tort is too big for a viv or table so he has his own room which has been adapted for him.

Looking forward to hearing more about and maybe seeing your tort?

Hi, I have been trying to upload pics of Sparti but haven't had much luck apart from the Avatar .
At the moment he is enjoying some sun in the garden .
I will keep trying to upload pics so you can see his vivarium and the garden run which i know isn't ideal for him but as i said he spends all day out and about and we are very mindful of him when he is out so please don't worry about him.
We have a basking lamp and separate UV strip light at the moment but am going to get a mercury vaper bulb after reading posts on here it seems that this is a better type to use , now im will try and upload some pics of Sparti wish me luck !