Pyramiding or just growing ?

[Samantha hoffman]

I got a baby sulcata tort about five months ago. Hes been my baby ever since. I take him outside. He gets food from outside mixed lettuce spring to be exact rose petals and cactuses. Not all at once lol. I feed him once a day and give him a bath every other. Gets calcium twice a week. I keep his tank in the day 80-100 and usually 65 at night and i spray his walls to keep in moisture. How can i keep his tank more humid ? Is he pyramiding he had large brown gaps ?

 

[Tom]

65 is way too cold at night for a sulcata.

Pyramiding is caused by growth in conditions that are too dry. Read this to see what is different in your set up:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

These might help too:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Samantha

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome!

 

[Samantha hoffman]

65 is way too cold at night for a sulcata.

Pyramiding is caused by growth in conditions that are too dry. Read this to see what is different in your set up:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

These might help too:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/[/QUOTE


Does he look like he's pyramiding?

 

[Samantha hoffman]

Its been about 75 at night its sll ranges i do not use a heat lamp at night. Does he look like he's pyrimiding

 

[Tom]

Does he look like he's pyramiding?

He is small for his age, which is typical of dry started babies. In order to pyramid, they must grow. Yours hasn't grown much, so it hasn't pyramided much. The new growth does not look terrible, but the big notch between the scutes is an indicator that things are much too dry. Do not add moisture without adding night heat first. This is all in the care sheets.

The best way to raise them is to simulate the wet, warm, rainy, humid, monsoon conditions that they hatch into in the wild. 75 is too cool for wet conditions. Keep it at least 80 overnight. This is best accomplished with a ceramic heating element set on a reptile thermostat. Need links to that stuff?

 

[GingerLove]

Your tortoise looks beautiful! He doesn't look like he is pyramiding to me, but if you want to keep him looking like the cutie he is, then I'd suggest taking all of the advice above very seriously! Congrats, he's going to grow into a beautiful big boy! Or girl.

 

[TammyJ]

Hello and welcome to you and your beautiful little tortoise.

 

[Samantha hoffman]

When i got him around march he was about 2 1/2 now hes about 4 inches so he has started growing. Should i be feed him more then once a day ? I know i neeed a night lamp but what temp ? Im gonna go out today before work and get one. Mr tortty needs a happy healthy life hes very active and a good part of my familiyl

 

[Samantha hoffman]

Well thank you so much hes a little boy i can already tell in his little man additude lol. Hes very cute he has a grumpy old man face but hes happy as can be

 

[Tom]

Should i be feed him more then once a day ? I know i neeed a night lamp but what temp ?

Its all right here:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

 

[GingerLove]

Well thank you so much hes a little boy i can already tell in his little man additude lol. Hes very cute he has a grumpy old man face but hes happy as can be

Ha! I love the "grumpy old man face"!

 

[Speedy-1]

Hi and welcome Samantha !

 

[Samantha hoffman]

Is my baby sulcata pyrimiding

 

[wellington]

Yes, slightly. Get her in a humid environment 80% with temps no lower then 80 and she should start to grow smooth. When she's bigger, you won't even notice that she has pyramided.

 

[Samantha hoffman]

Hoe can i raise it more i soray the tank and keep his log hut nice and moist and have. A night lamp fot him what else can i do to make it more humid

 

[Samantha hoffman]

No ones helping me out with the humidity im cluless on it to be honest

 

[surfergirl]

what kind of substrate is he on? have you read all of Tom's articles on proper sulcata care listed under tortoise species, African, sulacata?
all the information you need is right there. I have been using these care instructions and I have had great success so far with smooth shells and healthy torts! nice looking sully you have and if you start using their care suggestions you will not be able to see this small amount of pyramiding when he starts growing smooth.

 

[Alexio]

Posting pictures of your enclosure would be helpful. But it's really about having a substrate that holds and releases moisture. Then having a lid on the top of the tank/ enclosure to keep the moist humid air inside.
This is an example of a 55 gallon tank with a homemade lid to keep in humidity and warm air.