Preventing pyramiding?

Joined
Mar 20, 2020
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Denver, Colorado
Hello!

As I have mentioned before, I'm getting a baby Russian very soon (august 4th). I'm really concerned about pyramiding and how to prevent it. I've ordered the lights so it won't get MBD, as well as some moss to create extra moist hides. Can anyone help me to prevent pyramiding? I'm so so worried that something will go wrong, and I don't want Noodles to get sick or suffer.

Thanks :)
- Gracey and Noodles
 

nicoleann2214

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Mar 11, 2020
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917
Location (City and/or State)
NY
Hello!

As I have mentioned before, I'm getting a baby Russian very soon (august 4th). I'm really concerned about pyramiding and how to prevent it. I've ordered the lights so it won't get MBD, as well as some moss to create extra moist hides. Can anyone help me to prevent pyramiding? I'm so so worried that something will go wrong, and I don't want Noodles to get sick or suffer.

Thanks :)
- Gracey and Noodles
Welcome, pyramiding is from lack of humidity. What will you be housing your little one in.
 

nicoleann2214

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I'll be housing Noodles in a premade house for about a year, after that I'm knocking the shelves out of an old bookcase and making that an enclosure.
Will you be able to have high humidity in the home?
 

nicoleann2214

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Yes, I have a spray bottle that I'll use to moisten the substrate everyday so there's a moist microclimate. if that isn't enough I could possibly use a humidifier.
If you’re able to create a closed chamber type enclosure that would help a great deal. @Tom has many good articles on why they benefit torts for pyramiding. And theyre easy to control the temps of the environment. :)
 

Tom

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Hello!

As I have mentioned before, I'm getting a baby Russian very soon (august 4th). I'm really concerned about pyramiding and how to prevent it. I've ordered the lights so it won't get MBD, as well as some moss to create extra moist hides. Can anyone help me to prevent pyramiding? I'm so so worried that something will go wrong, and I don't want Noodles to get sick or suffer.
You should remove the moss. The tortoise will eat it and it can cause impactions.

I don't like using humidifiers for tortoises. Breathing that air with water vapor concerns me. Not the same as humid air.

To prevent pyramiding in a Russian tortoise:
  • Use a closed chamber to make it easier to maintain moderate humidity.
  • Soak babies daily for 30-40 minutes.
  • Spray the carapace several times a day with RO, distilled or collected rain water.
  • Offer a humid hide. No moss in it. Just wet the substrate under it.
  • Limit time in an outdoor pen while the baby is small.
  • Use low wattage flood type bulbs for basking. No spot bulbs, no halogens, no mercury vapor bulbs.
  • Increase day time ambient temps in the enclosure to discourage basking.
  • Limit UVB production to 3-4 hours mid day only, if you use any at all.
  • Have a very large enclosure to encourage more walking and exercise.
  • For babies, use a thick layer of damp coco coir and hand pack it down firmly. For adults use 3-4 inches of fine grade orchid bark and keep it damp.

Here is the correct care info. There is a lot of old out dated incorrect info in circulation:
 

KarenSoCal

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You might find this useful as well.

 
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