Is this pyramiding?

[pinnie]

So, after consulting here on forum, I ve done my best with lights, and humidity, and substrate, and food.
My main query is, from these year-apart pics, would like some input on Tojo's shell. Pyramiding? What more can I do to stop it?And overall health if any one can point out.
I saw somethn protruding outa it's tail, can I confirm it's a male?
The guy is active somedays, lazy somedays, eats fine.
I got him as tiny baby in Feb 2024, should be around 2 yrs now.

 

[pinnie]

@Tom @ZEROPILOT

 

[RandyTortoise]

Looks like it is starting to pyramid a bit. Up the humidity and check the diet and calcium vit d you are feeding. Not too bad though, yet

 

[pinnie]

Looks like it is starting to pyramid a bit. Up the humidity and check the diet and calcium vit d you are feeding. Not too bad though, yet

Im already keeping it misted n moist. But will do so more. Has diet of pellets, hay, grass and greens. Cuttlebone in enclosure, chews on it on off. I ll work harder on this fella.
Appreciate your reply...thank you!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

View attachment 395577View attachment 395578View attachment 395579View attachment 395580
So, after consulting here on forum, I ve done my best with lights, and humidity, and substrate, and food.
My main query is, from these year-apart pics, would like some input on Tojo's shell. Pyramiding? What more can I do to stop it?And overall health if any one can point out.
I saw somethn protruding outa it's tail, can I confirm it's a male?
The guy is active somedays, lazy somedays, eats fine.
I got him as tiny baby in Feb 2024, should be around 2 yrs now.

There is pyramiding, it’s not awful, I’ve seen worse in stars at this size, but if not got on top of it will start to look more severe.

What are your humidity levels like? And what kind of lighting do you use? Do you have a photo of your set up by any chance?

Do you have a photo of the protrusion in question? Still too small to tell for certain

Im already keeping it misted n moist. But will do so more. Has diet of pellets, hay, grass and greens. Cuttlebone in enclosure, chews on it on off. I ll work harder on this fella.
Appreciate your reply...thank you!

How often would you safe you’re having to mist? Misting isn’t really super effective in keeping the humidity up, what substrate are you using?

 

[COmtnLady]

Do not mist, spray, or fog. That only creates droplets, not humidity. It is hard on your tortoise's respiratory system and can cause problems. Further, it evaporates off the top level of the substrate and cools the enclosure down.

The better way to keep a constant and balanced humidity is the have the lowest level of the substrate be wet enough to disperse up through the dry levels of bark chips. Once the system is established its very easy to maintain a good level of humidity with little effort.

What level of humidity are you keeping this little one at? Do you have a top on your enclosure to hold the humidity and heat inside?

 

[pinnie]

There is pyramiding, it’s not awful, I’ve seen worse in stars at this size, but if not got on top of it will start to look more severe.

What are your humidity levels like? And what kind of lighting do you use? Do you have a photo of your set up by any chance?

Do you have a photo of the protrusion in question? Still too small to tell for certain


How often would you safe you’re having to mist? Misting isn’t really super effective in keeping the humidity up, what substrate are you using?

There is pyramiding, it’s not awful, I’ve seen worse in stars at this size, but if not got on top of it will start to look more severe.

What are your humidity levels like? And what kind of lighting do you use? Do you have a photo of your set up by any chance?

Do you have a photo of the protrusion in question? Still too small to tell for certain


How often would you safe you’re having to mist? Misting isn’t really super effective in keeping the humidity up, what substrate are you using?

Humidity shows 60-70 on my hygrometer. I kept monitoring it in first few months and since then have kept the routine same with bedding and misting.
I have a mister which I switch on three times a day for ten mins each.
I use uvb bulb only during monsoons when there s no sunlight...otherwise Tojo gets natural sun on my terrace garden...everyday for an hour.
Bedding is that of bark chips, coco peat, organic soil.
Will get photo of enclosure once home from work.
Dint click pics of protrusion, which I happened to see twice thrice, felt like I was invading it's privacy. But will click nxt when I get chance.

 

[pinnie]

Do not mist, spray, or fog. That only creates droplets, not humidity. It is hard on your tortoise's respiratory system and can cause problems. Further, it evaporates off the top level of the substrate and cools the enclosure down.

The better way to keep a constant and balanced humidity is the have the lowest level of the substrate be wet enough to disperse up through the dry levels of bark chips. Once the system is established its very easy to maintain a good level of humidity with little effort.

What level of humidity are you keeping this little one at? Do you have a top on your enclosure to hold the humidity and heat inside?

It's a warm mister/humidifier. Enclosure is topped. So its all warm and humid.
Humidity shows 60-70 on hygrometer.
Bedding is coco peat, organic soil and bark chips.
Anythn that I need to change?

 

[Tom]

Im already keeping it misted n moist. But will do so more. Has diet of pellets, hay, grass and greens. Cuttlebone in enclosure, chews on it on off. I ll work harder on this fella.
Appreciate your reply...thank you!

Yes, that is pyramiding, and the above quote is a clue as to why.

Humidity needs to be over 80% all the time. 60-70% and you having to spray all the time tells me you have too much ventilation, and its not a closed chamber with the lights inside. If I misted one of my closed chambers it would be a flood zone in a matter of days.

Also, what are you using for a basking bulb? Spot bulbs, halogens, and MVBs can cause pyramiding even in a humid environment.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Humidity shows 60-70 on my hygrometer. I kept monitoring it in first few months and since then have kept the routine same with bedding and misting.
I have a mister which I switch on three times a day for ten mins each.
I use uvb bulb only during monsoons when there s no sunlight...otherwise Tojo gets natural sun on my terrace garden...everyday for an hour.
Bedding is that of bark chips, coco peat, organic soil.
Will get photo of enclosure once home from work.
Dint click pics of protrusion, which I happened to see twice thrice, felt like I was invading it's privacy. But will click nxt when I get chance.

It's a warm mister/humidifier. Enclosure is topped. So its all warm and humid.
Humidity shows 60-70 on hygrometer.
Bedding is coco peat, organic soil and bark chips.
Anythn that I need to change?

60-70 is unfortunately too low.
I would definitely not recommend misters/humidifers, all they do is get the surface area wet and cause a temporary boost, you don’t want it to be temporary. The most effective way to maintain the humidity 24/7 is a thick damp layer(properly maintained) in a closed chamber, if that layer isn’t enough, you’re loosing heat and humidity from somewhere in your enclosure. Any enclosure that needs a humidifier to keep humidity up, is too open.

Sounds great on the uv front, what kind of indoor uv is it? Bulbs definitely make a difference with pyramiding.

With your substrate, stick with just the coco coir and orchid bark, I’d ditch the soil.

Will await pics of enclosure, hopefully we can offer further suggestions to help maintain that higher humidity

 

[pinnie]

Ok..so update...after all the above messages, I understood that water droplets or misting is not humidity..it has basically to do with nice, moist bedding. Also, i understood the importance of closed enclosure...which I never closed as dint want Tojo to be left alone.
Now my humidity rises arnd 88..once touched 99 too. I'm still avoiding uvb coz I believe morning sun is sufficient. Using ceramic heater bulb...temp varies btwn 25-35 celcius... cool, warm.
I believe I'm yet to learn so much to care for this baby. I'm ever so grateful to all of you.