Just picked up the pyramiding Sulcata. Advice?

santorozoo

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OK - so here he is. He’s bigger than the 5-6” they told me he was. When we get home I’ll measure. I have some concerns. Anyone think these are early signs of MBD?? Is this mainly just the dehydration, or lack of calcium? Or BOTH?

1. The pyramiding is worse than initial pictures show I think. See pictures. I also included a couple of close ups of a seriously dry looking shell. [emoji22]

2. Plastron doesn’t look good. Hard to tell from the pictures but each hypoplastron (I think that’s what they’re called?) areas are pretty sunken in. The plastron IS hard, though.

I know this damage can not be undone even with ideal care moving forward, but any other advice folks can give would be great! I had planned a closed chamber but now if he IS 10-12” should I be keeping him outdoors instead? I do already have the setup.

Thanks, all!

IMG_1377.jpgIMG_1374.jpgIMG_1376.jpg. IMG_1372.jpg
 

Blackdog1714

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maybe the 5-6" was inrefernce to high high off the ground he got! WOW you got a lot more their! Good luck for doing a good thing!
 

Tim Carlisle

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Quite a big fellow! Looks like they weren't feeding it properly or under ideal conditions. I'm sure you will correct that though! Hard to tell from the pics, but I almost suspect a slight fungus situation on the carapace. Easily treated with OTC antifungal cream if my suspicion is correct. Great tort ya got there. Pyramiding doesn't look *that* bad considering.
 

santorozoo

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Quite a big fellow! Looks like they weren't feeding it properly or under ideal conditions. I'm sure you will correct that though! Hard to tell from the pics, but I almost suspect a slight fungus situation on the carapace. Easily treated with OTC antifungal cream if my suspicion is correct. Great tort ya got there. Pyramiding doesn't look *that* bad considering.

Thanks. Yes I had a thread over a week ago when I found out I was getting him.

They had him in a 100 gallon aquarium tank with lighting. No enclosed hide, no water dish. WAY dry. He was fed ONLY kale and strawberries daily. :(
 

Tim Carlisle

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Thanks. Yes I had a thread over a week ago when I found out I was getting him.

They had him in a 100 gallon aquarium tank with lighting. No enclosed hide, no water dish. WAY dry. He was fed ONLY kale and strawberries daily. :(
Ugh. Sounds like you have your work cut out for you then.
 

Tom

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He doesn't look too bad at all. Plastron looks fine. Carapace is a little bit pyramided, but not bad. The pics don't show enough to see if there is MDB or not, but I'd guess not based on what I can see.
 

santorozoo

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He doesn't look too bad at all. Plastron looks fine. Carapace is a little bit pyramided, but not bad. The pics don't show enough to see if there is MDB or not, but I'd guess not based on what I can see.

Thank you for easing my concerns! Worried about the poor guy. Glad he doesn’t look bad. He’s going to be happy here!

I’m surprised he’s much bigger than they told me, but that’s great because he can stay outside in the daytime for now! (Slowly increasing hours until he’s used to it of course, since he’s only ever lived in a glass aquarium)
 

Romeo Serback

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That's awesome! I think she looks great! When I move to Florida, I'll be sure to rescue one.
 

Boogeyman

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You are awesome... please post more pictures of your new Tort.
 

Professor Brenda

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Thanks. Yes I had a thread over a week ago when I found out I was getting him.

They had him in a 100 gallon aquarium tank with lighting. No enclosed hide, no water dish. WAY dry. He was fed ONLY kale and strawberries daily. :(
OMG! That is awful!! Yes he needs to be slowly moved outdoors. Provide lots of humidity and water. Soak him daily for a while. Feed him well. He will love you and be so much happier. As an advocate for rescue and adoption, I solute you for adopting. Yay!!

Brenda
 
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santorozoo

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OMG! That is awful!! Yes he needs to be slowly moved outdoors. Provide lots of humidity and water. Soak him daily for a while. Feed him well. He will love you and be so much happier. As an advocate for rescue and adoption, I solute you for adopting. Yay!!

Brenda

Thanks!

I have 14 pets and all but 5 are adopted. [emoji23][emoji23] (two are guinea pigs and 3 are ferrets.)

-4 rescue dogs
-1 rescue ferret
-1 rescue guinea pig
-1 rescue red eared slider
-1 rescue Russian tort
-1 rescue sulcata
[emoji173]️
 

santorozoo

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Also - I measured today he’s 8”. Can he be sexed yet?

I think he may be a she!! The anal botch is a little more v or u shaped than broad, and the gulag protection looks smaller than I’d think for a male. Or is it just too early to tell??

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13EEDD93-61F9-460A-8961-67A91E9CFFCD.jpeg
 

Professor Brenda

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Yay adoption.
We have
4 rescued tiger salamanders (they were intended to be fish bate)
1 rescue blind old dog and her 2 pups
2 rescue goats
2 goats we bought because we fell in love with the dirt 2, and two of their babies.
1 created gecko
1 rescued sulcata

Thank goodness We live on 55 acres. He he.
 

kazjimmy

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This is not too bad man. Just keep him outdoor during summer and a winter box during the coolest days. He/she should live long.
 

sibi

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Also - I measured today he’s 8”. Can he be sexed yet?

I think he may be a she!! The anal botch is a little more v or u shaped than broad, and the gulag protection looks smaller than I’d think for a male. Or is it just too early to tell??

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View attachment 277968
I tend to agree with you. It may be a female. In one of the photos you have a hand over the plastron and it doesn't appear to be concave. Also, like you said, the anal botch looks like my female's. The gulag could be tricky, though.
 
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