tortoisegrandmother90
New Member
Hi all! I noticed recently that our juvenile's shell seems like it may be beginning to pyramid on the back scutes specifically. Can anyone weigh in on whether this is normal growth or if it is the beginning of pyramiding?
If it is beginning to pyramid, I know we'll need to make adjustments for her to prevent further pyramiding.
I assume adding calcium would help. Right now, she gets Mazuri juvenile tortoise feed along with a wide variety of veggies and some fruits. We do not feed protein or calcium outside of the pellets so would a calcium powder help? If anyone has favorite brands or other options, I would love suggestions.
Regarding her environment, we life in mid-south Florida only a couple miles from the gulf coast so it's humid and warm. She is in an outdoor enclosure that comprises two wooden tortoise houses joined together (so 2x8' for now - we have plans for a larger, in ground natural one when we move next year). Her enclosure usually reads around 65-80% for humidity so we haven't done anything to supplement that. Her substrate is a combo of reptiles bark and some terrarium liner in the open parts (the monsoons we get tend to soak the open top portions and create mold and mildew with the natural substrate so we've found this to be easier to keep clean for her). That said, with the intense Florida August heat, she tends to hang out in her hides more so could lack of UVB contribute to this?
PS - she was about to have her bath and soak when I took these photos so I promise we do keep our baby clean
She was also not pleased with being interrupted from a nice slumber. She's usually very curious and alert but today I was getting the eye lol 
If it is beginning to pyramid, I know we'll need to make adjustments for her to prevent further pyramiding.
I assume adding calcium would help. Right now, she gets Mazuri juvenile tortoise feed along with a wide variety of veggies and some fruits. We do not feed protein or calcium outside of the pellets so would a calcium powder help? If anyone has favorite brands or other options, I would love suggestions.
Regarding her environment, we life in mid-south Florida only a couple miles from the gulf coast so it's humid and warm. She is in an outdoor enclosure that comprises two wooden tortoise houses joined together (so 2x8' for now - we have plans for a larger, in ground natural one when we move next year). Her enclosure usually reads around 65-80% for humidity so we haven't done anything to supplement that. Her substrate is a combo of reptiles bark and some terrarium liner in the open parts (the monsoons we get tend to soak the open top portions and create mold and mildew with the natural substrate so we've found this to be easier to keep clean for her). That said, with the intense Florida August heat, she tends to hang out in her hides more so could lack of UVB contribute to this?
PS - she was about to have her bath and soak when I took these photos so I promise we do keep our baby clean
She was also not pleased with being interrupted from a nice slumber. She's usually very curious and alert but today I was getting the eye lol 
