Testudoresearch
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2013
- Messages
- 114
No problem. I understand the context of the question now.
I think there are a number of serious problems with that study. They say that their intent was to (I quote) "examine the effect of dietary protein level and environmental humidity on the degree of pyramidal growth in the carapaces". They also said that their aim was to provide "the basis for advice to turtle keepers". I certainly think a valid study with those aims could be designed. I do not (for reasons I will explain later) think they succeeded in doing that, however. Sulcata Sandy has pointed out one problem area. You also raise another - the lack of any kind of evidence of bone quality. In other words, we have no idea if MBD was present or not in any of the tortoises in this study.... we don't know if the bone growth resulting from each group was "good" or "bad". There are no X-rays, for example.
I think there are a number of serious problems with that study. They say that their intent was to (I quote) "examine the effect of dietary protein level and environmental humidity on the degree of pyramidal growth in the carapaces". They also said that their aim was to provide "the basis for advice to turtle keepers". I certainly think a valid study with those aims could be designed. I do not (for reasons I will explain later) think they succeeded in doing that, however. Sulcata Sandy has pointed out one problem area. You also raise another - the lack of any kind of evidence of bone quality. In other words, we have no idea if MBD was present or not in any of the tortoises in this study.... we don't know if the bone growth resulting from each group was "good" or "bad". There are no X-rays, for example.