Pyrimiding and Reds

[AnimalLady]

I have noticed a large amount of Reds with Pyramiding, is this tort more susceptible to pyramiding? I joined a FB group and wow, lots of bumpy torts. Is this caused by poor diet, poor lighting or a combination of both?

 

[G-stars]

Interesting that you see redfoots with a lot of pyramiding. It's one of the species I see the less with. As they are a tropical species and many people raise them and treat them as such. Which means higher humidity.

As for your question regarding pyramiding. Everything points to it being humidity and hydration related. I would t attribute it to poor lighting unless it's caused by MBD. Some still believe it's due to high protein. However that's been mostly disproved by many.

 

[AnimalLady]

Interesting that you see redfoots with a lot of pyramiding. It's one of the species I see the less with. As they are a tropical species and many people raise them and treat them as such. Which means higher humidity.

As for your question regarding pyramiding. Everything points to it being humidity and hydration related. I would t attribute it to poor lighting unless it's caused by MBD. Some still believe it's due to high protein. However that's been mostly disproved by many.

Well, I'm extremely new to all of this and ive only done more in depth research on Reds and Russians so I guess I could be way off. I'm in no way any expert.

Hydration and humidity, wow, everything on the internet is so out dated, its crazy. I cant tell you how many articles ive read that people claim it to be diet and lighting related.

I'm beginning to think I should just stop Googling and utilize the forum a lot more for searches....

 

[G-stars]

Well, I'm extremely new to all of this and ive only done more in depth research on Reds and Russians so I guess I could be way off. I'm in no way any expert.

Hydration and humidity, wow, everything on the internet is so out dated, its crazy. I cant tell you how many articles ive read that people claim it to be diet and lighting related.

I'm beginning to think I should just stop Googling and utilize the forum a lot more for searches....

Yes the internet is pretty outdated.

An example of why I don't think it's lighting is: comparing a sulcata raised outdoors their entire life, one is located in Florida (high humidity), while the other us raised in California (low humidity). The results I've seen many times is that the California one will almost always pyramid. I know there could be many other factors to why they do or do not pyramid but my point was to point out that lighting has little to nothing to do with it.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Humidity, Humidity, Humidity and even in Florida for a good part of the year it is NOT humid enough. If you can believe that?
I think what (WE) are seeing are tortoises that were raised indoors as a baby and without enough humidity. I have six right now. Two from our "Friend" Andrew that are farm born and raised and both have moderate pyramiding. Three from some enthusiast in Miami that hatched and raised his own and they show none of it and one that I myself raised from a tiny baby I purchased from a guy at the Swap Shop. It was in a ten gallon aquarium on pine shavings! And even she, at about seven years old, shows very little.
Farm specimens don't seem to fair as well.

 

[AnimalLady]

Humidity, Humidity, Humidity and even in Florida for a good part of the year it is NOT humid enough. If you can believe that?
I think what (WE) are seeing are tortoises that were raised indoors as a baby and without enough humidity. I have six right now. Two from our "Friend" Andrew that are farm born and raised and both have moderate pyramiding. Three from some enthusiast in Miami that hatched and raised his own and they show none of it and one that I myself raised from a tiny baby I purchased from a guy at the Swap Shop. It was in a ten gallon aquarium on pine shavings! And even she, at about seven years old, shows very little.
Farm specimens don't seem to fair as well.

Interesting. So the farm born and raised from Andrew show pyramiding, although they were raised outdoors? That's crazy, and if it weren't from the history on that guy, it might worry me.

How did your baby red begin with you? Indoors or out?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Interesting. So the farm born and raised from Andrew show pyramiding, although they were raised outdoors? That's crazy, and if it weren't from the history on that guy, it might worry me.

How did your baby red begin with you? Indoors or out?

My baby came to me at already about 4" and living on pine. Since I got her, she's lived outdoors. The pyramiding stopped.
I have all of my tortoises outdoors and I use a misting system on a timer during the dryer months.
And you are correct, I'm not sure about the truth about the two from Hollywood. I was told that they were born and raised in a farm in Miami and had lived there for 20-25 years. They are both kind of spikey.

 

[TerrapinStation]

I use a misting system on a timer during the dryer months.

@ZEROPILOT
What system do you use? Seems like all of the ones available get terrible reviews ,i.e they mold, break, overheat when out of water etc....

We mist our Redfoot 2-3 times daily depending on ambient/atmospheric conditions. But for vacations or days when we are not home we were definitely looking for a reliable and efficient mister/humidifier. Thanks!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I use a combination of something sold by Home depot, but with zip ties at the joints and PVC pipe to run outside where the sun would weaken it.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Sorry. I thought the last photo showed it "raining".
Wrong photo.

 

[TerrapinStation]

Ohhhhh OK. Much bigger scale than I need, but way cool.

Thanks

 

[AnimalLady]

My baby came to me at already about 4" and living on pine. Since I got her, she's lived outdoors. The pyramiding stopped.
I have all of my tortoises outdoors and I use a misting system on a timer during the dryer months.
And you are correct, I'm not sure about the truth about the two from Hollywood. I was told that they were born and raised in a farm in Miami and had lived there for 20-25 years. They are both kind of spikey.

Do you recommend me to get a mister? Can I just mist with my hose daily? I can see where this will be a pain in the butt, ill eventually upgrade, but not right now.

 

[dmmj]

most of the people on facebook keep their tortoises dry hence bumpy tortoises. you can see the results of high humidity here with nice smooth red foot tortoises.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Do you recommend me to get a mister? Can I just mist with my hose daily? I can see where this will be a pain in the butt, ill eventually upgrade, but not right now.

Got a hose?
Attach a sprinkler. Done.

 

[AnimalLady]

Got a hose?
Attach a sprinkler. Done.

Ha, yea, I didn't even think about that. Thank you!

 

[AnimalLady]

I use a combination of something sold by Home depot, but with zip ties at the joints and PVC pipe to run outside where the sun would weaken it.

Impressive. Love it!