Is my tortoise pyramiding?

[jylee1997123]

I have made sure the humidity is always around 70+- , spraying his substrate every 2-3 hours if possible.
Gave him mixture of bark, wood chips and coco substrate 1L:8L:8L
indoor enclosure without cover
Fed him zoomed food, he eats around 1/4 - 1/2 of the pellet everyday, none others because weeds are hard to find and i am afraid of feeding him the wrong food.
Bath him in warm water everyday 15 mins
Calcium intake Repashy ones with Vitamin D3 twice a week.
Gave him UVB and Basking light

I read around and i realize i maybe need some cover for his enclosures to keep the humidity higher 80-90% range. Anyone have ideas what cover can I use for his enclosure? I don't wanna put flat ones, also what about the lighting when enclosure is covered?
I also looking to buy a humidifier to keep the humidity even higher, planned to get this model ( http://www.deerma.com/proshow-en.asp?id=411 ) and maybe modify the humidifier a little bit with added pipes to spray directly into his enclosure.

 

[jylee1997123]

 

[daniellenc]

You definitely will need a closed chamber to prevent pyramiding soaks and misting will not be enough. He also needs more than pellets as food even if it’s grocery store greens but if you post where you live someone will be able to tell you safe plants

 

[teresaf]

Yes, he's pyramiding. The first thing I would do to correct it is toss that dial thermometer/hygrometer in the trash. They are notoriously inconsistent in high humidity applications. Digital is better
I used these....

 

[jylee1997123]

You definitely will need a closed chamber to prevent pyramiding soaks and misting will not be enough. He also needs more than pellets as food even if it’s grocery store greens but if you post where you live someone will be able to tell you safe plants

Thanks ! I am trying really hard to look into closed chamber option right now. Hoping everything will be fixed early

Yes, he's pyramiding. The first thing I would do to correct it is toss that dial thermometer/hygrometer in the trash. They are notoriously inconsistent in high humidity applications. Digital is better
I used these....

Thanks ! Will definitely change to digital ones soon

 

[teresaf]

Once you get a new digital thermometer and a closed chamber you can dump water in there. I'll bring the humidity up. You'll know it's up there high enough when there's condensation is on the glass all the time. Lol. Just make sure you keep the temperature up to 80 all the time and every little corner of his enclosure so he doesn't get a respiratory infection. I'm not positive what the temp requirements are for this type of tortoise... There are certain tortoises like redfoots that require lower temperatures but most if not all the babies require 80 and above..

 

[jylee1997123]

Once you get a new digital thermometer and a closed chamber you can dump water in there. I'll bring the humidity up. You'll know it's up there high enough when there's condensation is on the glass all the time. Lol. Just make sure you keep the temperature up to 80 all the time and every little corner of his enclosure so he doesn't get a respiratory infection. I'm not positive what the temp requirements are for this type of tortoise... There are certain tortoises like redfoots that require lower temperatures but most if not all the babies require 80 and above..

Thanks I feed him wheatgrass + zoomed pellet now instead of just pellet, with calcium sprinkle 2 times a week. The digital humidity sensor just arrived. During the time when I am waiting for the sensor I made sure i sprayed the substrate every 2 hours, the substrate is even soaking during the time when I am waiting for the humidity sensor.
Now, just placed and checked the humidity sensor, it is showing 80 + humidity. Means that during all the waiting time i've kept it nice above 80% + humidity.

He is sleeping right now. I will post some pics once he wakes up, but i don't think theres any improvement on the pyramiding :/

About the closed chamber, i ordered a new enclosure few weeks ago. They should come around the beginning of july. Hope everything is fine :/

 

[daniellenc]

Can you look into safe weeds and greens? Pellets really aren’t food but more treats.

 

[jylee1997123]

Can you look into safe weeds and greens? Pellets really aren’t food but more treats.

Yes i am now feeding him wheatgrass. Chias are coming soon too

 

[WithLisa]

He actually eats that stuff? It's probably not harmful, but Hermanns are not a grass eating species.
Why not just pick some weeds for him?

 

[jylee1997123]

He actually eats that stuff? It's probably not harmful, but Hermanns are not a grass eating species.
Why not just pick some weeds for him?

It is not easy to find at where I am though..
I searched through tortoise table and they said wheatgrass and chia are safe to feed. Is it that bad?

 

[daniellenc]

It is not easy to find at where I am though..
I searched through tortoise table and they said wheatgrass and chia are safe to feed. Is it that bad?

It’s pretty bad sorry. Where do you live? Weeds are everywhere and the grocery store even has great greens. Being raised on pellets means he’ll be resistant to the good stuff so make a slow switch but take a look at the tortoise chef thread. Lots of options there.

 

[jylee1997123]

It’s pretty bad sorry. Where do you live? Weeds are everywhere and the grocery store even has great greens. Being raised on pellets means he’ll be resistant to the good stuff so make a slow switch but take a look at the tortoise chef thread. Lots of options there.

I live in malaysia, city area. I don't trust grocery's food and also grasses around my area because of pesticides

 

[daniellenc]

Malaysia? You have tons of native weeds!! I buy organic greens from the Asian food market in winter!! Squash leaves, dandelion, red cabbage, radish leaves, mustard greens, heck even spring mix. Those pellets are full of grains and will cause health problems down the road.

 

[jylee1997123]

Malaysia? You have tons of native weeds!! I buy organic greens from the Asian food market in winter!! Squash leaves, dandelion, red cabbage, radish leaves, mustard greens, heck even spring mix. Those pellets are full of grains and will cause health problems down the road.

They don't sell that in the grocery or market [emoji46]

 

[jylee1997123]

After a month and more keeping him in a closed chamber i felt like the pyramiding got worse :/
Chamber have like 99 percent humidity all the time :/ Theres 2 humidity measure on the tank and made sure non got spoil or something yet he is still pyramiding :/ i've read around saying that if I kept it hydrated and humid it won't pyramid :/ Need some expert's help here :/

 

[teresaf]

High humidity is the way to go to stop pyramiding... It takes more than a month of high humidity to see results. When you do see results it'll be between the schutes. Youll only see the smooth growth growing laterally Between the Shcutes. The original pyramiding around each schute will always be there but will be less noticeable as he gets bigger and the schutes get farther apart due to New Vertical growth...

 

[Jasminemmm]

how is your baby now?