Thanks Tom, will do!
Tom said:When you start to see a little notch between the scutes, then you already have a problem.
LuckysGirl007 said:Hmmmm....hard to tell. How old is he now? Any idea how early pyramiding can be clearly seen?
But very handsome he is!
DeanS said:It's ever so slight! If you're not soaking then do so...twice a day...at least 30 minutes per session.
NinjaTortoises said:Awesome coloring and doesnt look pyramided to me but the scutes look like its in the beginning process of it, its not as bad as mine were when i bought them, they had already some but im soaking and spraying them daily hopefully they grow smoother and hopefully yours does too
LestatHIM said:Why thank you I wish the best to you as well.
LestatHIM said:Sorry Everyone for taking so long to respond. I'm throwing up a few pics now. Let me know what you think!
Tom said:Interesting... I call that center portion of each scute the "shield". That is the part they are born with and it has a little bit of a rough texture to it. All the new growth comes in the form of the rings that encircle each shield. The best I can tell from your pics is that he has had 4 or 5 good smooth growth rings, and now, after all that smooth growth, you do have a notch. Now don't misunderstand... It is very slight and probably totally inconsequential. It does not mean that your tortoise is going to be pyramided now. He is not. I do find it interesting though, and would love to try to figure out what has changed. This notch may well fill in as he grows. Either way, with your routine, and this far in to it, your tortoise is NOT going to pyramid.
Have you changed basking bulbs recently?
Made it hotter?
What is your basking temp?
Did your outdoor humidity recent change with the onset of fall?
Started using the indoor heat more?
Has he been indoors under the heat lamps more than before?
Any new foods?
I'm looking for some change that might explain the change in his growth pattern...
Dizisdalife said:Your tortoise looks very nice. Mine was very similar, but he was older when I got him and had started pyramiding. Then I was able to get smooth growth started. For several months I watched every new growth with nervous anticipation. Anytime there was the slightest rise I would increase the amount of spraying and seal his chamber tighter. Today his shell is not pyramided, but it is far from smooth. There are plenty of irregularities and uneven spots. Some of these I have seen correct themselves as new growth comes in.
My advice is to keep him moist, which you are doing, warm at night, and take him outside in the daytime as much as you can. Always have a good hiding spot for him outside so he can get away from the sun.
lovelyrosepetal said:To be honest, I don't see it. To me, your tortoise looks smooth and really nice. I am sure that Tom could tell you if you need to be concerned, not that everyone else hasn't offered great input, it is just that with all the experiments Tom has done I am sure he would be able to tell for sure. I mean no disrespect to any of the great keepers that offered great opinions about your tortoises' shell. I think that you are doing great. I have a thread about pyramiding in my tortoise and I see very slight pyramiding and all I can do is just to keep up what I am doing and hope for the best. It sounds to me, like you don't have anything to worry about but I am just a newbie and have had mine less than you have had yours. I got mine in the middle of July so mine are a little younger than yours. Good luck and keep us posted.
lovelyrosepetal said:Hey LestatHim, You said that yours has grown substantially since you gave yours Mazuri. What were your weights and lengths when you first got it and what are they now? You were wondering if the protein had anything to do with it and if we could see the numbers it might help someone on the forum give you an idea on what is happening. I think I will do the same on my post and if anyone would be so kind they can look at it and tell me what they think, also. Good Luck!
Urtle said:Just curious, is this your first sulcata or pet tortoise you are raising?
Tom said:He had two growth rings in the first set of pics. They all grow at different rates, so there is no time frame when they are supposed to get them. The more they grow, the more rings you will be able to count.
The first few weeks of life are by far the most crucial. By the time they reach 6-8" the pattern for smooth growth is pretty well set, and you don't really have to worry about pyramiding after that point.
Daily Mazuri will make them grow faster. I haven't found that faster growth CAUSES pyramiding, but if conditions are wrong, faster growth will accentuate it. Yet that same speed of growth will not result in pyramiding if conditions are correct. From what I have read here, YOUR conditions are correct. I would still cut back to feeding Mazuri only two or three times a week.