Is my tortoise pyramiding?

[tutail]

He's* a russian tortoise hatchling, about six months old. He seems to not want to bask too much. He eats a lot and will walk around for about an hour a day but he doesn't sit under his mercury vapour UVB bulb for too long. The temperature under the basking spot is about 95 degrees. I feed him kale sprinkled with the TNT supplement and bath him every other day. He always has a fresh bowl of water and a cuttlebone, though he doesn't touch the cuttlebone. I'm afraid that he might be showing some very early signs of pyramiding which I'd like to stop. Am I doing anything wrong? Is there a way I can encourage him to bask more, or should I move the bulb closer to his hide? He has a favourite spot on the other end of the enclosure. Perhaps his habitat is too big for a hatchling? It's a 50 gallon tub, and the breeder had him in a much smaller tub. I took some pictures during his bath today... what do you think?

*I say he although he/she hasn't been sexed. Just a habit.

 

[ascott]

I think that is a good looking tort,...there is ever so slight indications of pyramiding...but ever so slight.....I would say the enclosure size is aok...if you offer the basking spot at around 100 and the cooler dry side to be around 70-75 ish then there is a good temp scale that he can utilize....I would however offer him foods other than kale...he needs a much wider variety of offerings--even if you add in a spring mix that will offer up some variety....

 

[mikeh]

What is temp in the cooler end of the enclosure and what is the humidity in his hide? Does he use hide at night? Is the MVB in the middle or on the side? Can we see a pic of the whole set up?

sent from mobile device using TFO app

 

[tutail]

I'll try to mix in some other greens into his diet.

The temperature in the cooler end is about 70-80 depending on the time of day.

I'm not sure about the humidity in his hide. I only have an analog humidity gauge in the centre of his enclosure and it's at about 50%. I know it's not entirely accurate so I should probably invest in a digital gauge or two. Should I mist his enclosure? Buy a humidifier?

The guide I follow (http://russiantortoise.net/care_sheet.htm) doesn't really specify the humidity level but I do give him baths every other day as this page (http://russiantortoise.net/hatchling_care.htm) recommends.

He uses his hide at night. He pretty much stays in there for about 23 hours a day.

The MVB is to the side. I'll try to get a picture in a minute but it looks almost exactly like this:

. Though I don't use play sand.

Funny, today he's been basking for a few hours.

 

[Tom]

1. No such thing as too big of an enclosure for a russian. They cover square miles in the wild in a day.

2. Pyramiding is caused by growth in conditions that are too dry. I don't see that in your baby. What are you using for substrate? Does he burrow into it? Is it damp? Does he have a humid hide?

3. Don't worry about getting him to bask more. He knows what his temp needs to be. He'll go warm up if he needs to and if not, he'll stay on the cooler side. It sounds like you'd have a good gradient if the bulb is over to one side.

4. He needs a much better diet with more variety. Kale is okay once in a while but not every day. Here is a great site for diet info: http://russiantortoise.net/russiantortoisediet.htm
Here is a thread I did for sulcatas that lists all sorts of foods. Just ignore all the stuff about grass and skip to the weed and plant lists: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-76744.html
If you must use grocery store foods, lean heavily on endive and escarole. Add variety with cilantro, collard greens, dandelion greens, carrot tops, watercress, some of the lettuces, arugula, turnip or mustard greens, bok choy, chards, and occasionally kale.

5. Your tortoise needs real sunshine in a safe enclosure as much as you can offer it. Here is an idea for that: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-30683.html

 

[tutail]

2. Pyramiding is caused by growth in conditions that are too dry. I don't see that in your baby. What are you using for substrate? Does he burrow into it? Is it damp? Does he have a humid hide?

3. Don't worry about getting him to bask more. He knows what his temp needs to be. He'll go warm up if he needs to and if not, he'll stay on the cooler side. It sounds like you'd have a good gradient if the bulb is over to one side.

4. He needs a much better diet with more variety. Kale is okay once in a while but not every day. Here is a great site for diet info: http://russiantortoise.net/russiantortoisediet.htm
Here is a thread I did for sulcatas that lists all sorts of foods. Just ignore all the stuff about grass and skip to the weed and plant lists: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-76744.html
If you must use grocery store foods, lean heavily on endive and escarole. Add variety with cilantro, collard greens, dandelion greens, carrot tops, watercress, some of the lettuces, arugula, turnip or mustard greens, bok choy, chards, and occasionally kale.

5. Your tortoise needs real sunshine in a safe enclosure as much as you can offer it. Here is an idea for that: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-30683.html

2. I use plantation soil. I try to keep it somewhat damp.
4. I'll work on his diet, thanks for the recommendations. I thought kale was one of the better foods to feed a Russian. Unfortunately I do have to rely on grocery store foods. I've been told that bok choy was bad for Russians though, am I mistaken?
5. I live in an apartment but I've thought about taking him to the park. I would make a little enclosure that I could carry with his substrate and a little bucket to hide in. I know letting a tortoise roam free in a park that could possibly use pesticides is a big no-no, but is it okay if he's in his own little bin?

 

[Tom]

2. Looks like you are doing a good job, judging from the looks of your tortoise.
4. Bok choy is just like kale. Good once in a while, but not every day. Same with spinach too.
5. That's a tough one. Real sunshine is best, but you have to be careful of so many things in a park type environment.