Dexters shell

[Blakem]

I've had Dexter since June of 2012. I have been observing the shell since I've owned him. How do you guys think his shell is doing? It looks good to me, but I'm open for criticism.

Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

 

[mike taylor]

A little pyramided but you can fix that with a little humidity. Read Toms care sheet in the sulcata part of the forum.But looks healthy.

 

[Blakem]

A little pyramided but you can fix that with a little humidity. Read Toms care sheet in the sulcata part of the forum.But looks healthy.

that's what I've used to raise dexter! But I will admit that humidity hasn't been perfect.


Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

 

[wellington]

Agree, a little pyramided, but not bad.

 

[Dizisdalife]

He looks pretty good to me. As he gets bigger that pyramiding will be less noticeable. He seems to have a darker than usual color. Has he always been like that?

 

[Blakem]

He looks pretty good to me. As he gets bigger that pyramiding will be less noticeable. He seems to have a darker than usual color. Has he always been like that?

It's strange that their is pyramiding though. Makes me pretty bummed actually. The darkness of the shell may be because dexter was a little dirty, it was 7pm, and not much light wa out. Dexters pretty dark though.


Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

 

[Tom]

That tortoise has NO pyramiding. That top line is as perfect as any I've seen. I think the side scutes look a little pyramided due to the color and optical illusion. Give us one more pic looking straight down from above and I bet those side scutes are as smooth in profile as the top line.

My Sudans have the same protrusions in the same front corner carapace scutes, and if you look at the pics of Brad's adults they show it somewhat too. I do not think it is any sort of growth anomaly or pyramiding, I think it's a genetic trait. My Sudans are the same age as Dexter and appear to be the same size.

The main area to judge pyramiding is that top line of the carapace viewed in profile, just like your pics show. He is as perfect as the best ones I have ever done. Change nothing. You have achieved perfection.

---

Look at the pics in this thread:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-67973.html


The first six pics demonstrate mild pyramiding. The seventh pic looks a lot like Dex. This tortoise is completely smooth, but Dexter might even be smoother. The sides look pyramided because of the color and two dimensional photos, but they are totally smooth.

 

[Blakem]

Interesting that they may be the same size. I'm glad that it doesn't appear to have pyramiding to someone else. The front scutes protrude out a little so I was believing that too.
Here's the picture requested. I also included one of dexter on top of the "dad" to see if maybe it looks similar.

Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

 

[Tom]

I'm no expert, but that looks like a Sudan adult male to me. They tend to get very large and they tend to have a higher dome like the one depicted does.

The over head shot confirms it for me. NO pyramiding whatsoever on Dexter.

 

[Blakem]

The breeder I got dexter from (that you recommended to me through PM) was Katherine. She never referred to her sulcata male as a Sudan.


Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

 

[Tom]

The guys I got mine from have been producing them for a long time. There are lots of them "out there", and the breeder never though much about telling anyone their place of origin. Looks like my friend Katherine may have one. Of course she's also in a perfect environment for them and raises the extremely well too.

 

[Blakem]

That would be wild if it turned out to be a Sudan. As for the turning dexter over, NO WAY! That's my pride and joy! Maybe I will have to bring him for you to babysit he next time I'm at six flags magic mountain!


Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

 

[Weda737]

Best looking tort I've seen. I thought people were joking at first when they kept saying pyramiding...

 

[Blakem]

Best looking tort I've seen. I thought people were joking at first when they kept saying pyramiding...

Much obliged!


Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

 

[Tortoise Princess]

I've had Dexter since June of 2012. I have been observing the shell since I've owned him. How do you guys think his shell is doing? It looks good to me, but I'm open for criticism.

Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

Dexter's one of my top five best sulcatas in this forum!!! Shell is just perfect

 

[Blakem]

Wow, thanks for the big compliment. I guess the end conclusion, parts of Dexters shell look as though it may be the start of pyramiding, but it is deceiving. I originally posted this thread thinking the front part of the shell was different. Thanks for every one of the replies guys. Have a splendid day.


Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

 

[Yvonne G]

Well, I see a couple of little bumps where a shoulder might be, but when the others said they saw a bit of pyramiding I couldn't see it. I think his shell is very smooth.

But what really struck my about the picture was the PVC drainage pipe with plants in it. What a neat idea!

 

[Blakem]

Well, I see a couple of little bumps where a shoulder might be, but when the others said they saw a bit of pyramiding I couldn't see it. I think his shell is very smooth.

But what really struck my about the picture was the PVC drainage pipe with plants in it. What a neat idea!

My parents got the idea from a smartphone app called "Pinterest". It has some very creative ideas apparently. It's really great! My parents have red leaf lettuce, thyme, radishes, kale, cilantro, and a few others. They allow me to pick it off and feed it to my guys. This will be their greenhouse when I move out, so they're starting it.


Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

 

[Godcomplex]

What a cool looking tort , nice job. No pyramiding , just smooth..

 

[diamondbp]

You're turtles shell is pretty darn perfect. Keep doing whatever your doing.