Are the shells of my 2 tortoises pyramiding?

[Younes]

Hello, are the shells of my 2 tortoises healthy? I don't know if they're pyramiding or not. I give them a diet of plantain, dandelion and other plants. Occasionally I give them romaine lettuce if I run out of other plants. Every week i give them korvimin. I have heat lamps and UV lamps. And when the sun shines i let them outside.

If they are in a early stage of pyramiding what can I do about it? Or is to late ?

I don't know the exact species but they're from North Africa.

 

[theelectraco]

They are already pretty heavily pyramided especially the second picture.

 

[Younes]

They are already pretty heavily pyramided especially the second picture.

What can i do about it.

 

[RuthJanice]

Check the links that Tom has regarding humidity, diet, temps, etc. This will help with the pyramiding.

 

[GBtortoises]

Yes, both show pyramided growth. Contributing factors can be an environment too consistently dry, excessive heat (dryness), diet and a combination of these and other factors. Are you certain that they are North African species? North African Testudo have some different requirements than do Middle Eastern Testudo than do Northern Mediterranean species. So it can be very important to be certain what region of their vast geographical range that your tortoises originate from. Could you post more photos of them? Especially from straight above their carapaces and a straight view of their plastrons.

 

[Tom]

Check the links that Tom has regarding humidity, diet, temps, etc. This will help with the pyramiding.

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but my info mostly pertains to sulcatas and leopards. GB is the expert on all things Testudo.

 

[Younes]

Yes, both show pyramided growth. Contributing factors can be an environment too consistently dry, excessive heat (dryness), diet and a combination of these and other factors. Are you certain that they are North African species? North African Testudo have some different requirements than do Middle Eastern Testudo than do Northern Mediterranean species. So it can be very important to be certain what region of their vast geographical range that your tortoises originate from. Could you post more photos of them? Especially from straight above their carapaces and a straight view of their plastrons.

 

[GBtortoises]

I have to correct Tom on this: "GB is the expert on all things Testudo.", should really say something more like: "GB has experience with Testudo."

Please, no one refer to me as an "expert" in anything! I"ve kept, raised and bred a number of Testudo species over the years, I know what has worked for me and am just trying to pass it on so others don't have to make the same mistakes. That does not make me an expert. Just a guy who has worked out some of the "bugs".

 

[Younes]

I have to correct Tom on this: "GB is the expert on all things Testudo.", should really say something more like: "GB has experience with Testudo."

Please, no one refer to me as an "expert" in anything! I"ve kept, raised and bred a number of Testudo species over the years, I know what has worked for me and am just trying to pass it on so others don't have to make the same mistakes. That does not make me an expert. Just a guy who has worked out some of the "bugs".

I posted some pictures, I adjusted the heat lamp and I'm keeping the the humidity high.

 

[tortoise007]

the substrate should NOT be those wood chips you are using, because they don't hold any humidity at all.
Please post more pics of your enclosure. Humidity, hydration and heat are the most important things to keeping pyramiding to a minimum. I would switch over to eco-earth, cypress mulch or something like that. Make sure to get a good misting bottle and get the substrate damp at least every day.

Welcome to TFO!

 

[Younes]

the substrate should NOT be those wood chips you are using, because they don't hold any humidity at all.
Please post more pics of your enclosure. Humidity, hydration and heat are the most important things to keeping pyramiding to a minimum. I would switch over to eco-earth, cypress mulch or something like that. Make sure to get a good misting bottle and get the substrate damp at least every day.

Welcome to TFO!

Thank you for your advise i'm switching to eco earth.

 

[ascott]

Humidity, hydration and heat are the most important things to keeping pyramiding to a minimum.

While humidity and proper temps ARE important, diet---exercise---natural sunlight are equally important....not just high humidity...

 

[tortoise007]

Glad I could help! Do you keep both tortoises in there? even if there is only one in there, it is to small. An adequate size tub or tank for only one should be no less than 2' by 4'. I would like you to check out all these threads here:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-66977.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-66801.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-70438.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-661.html

 

[Younes]

Glad I could help! Do you keep both tortoises in there? even if there is only one in there, it is to small. An adequate size tub or tank for only one should be no less than 2' by 4'. I would like you to check out all these threads here:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-66977.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-66801.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-70438.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-661.html

Thanks for the threads. I'm thinking of getting another box and creating the same setup as you.

 

[GBtortoises]

Humidity, hydration and heat are the most important things to keeping pyramiding to a minimum.

While humidity and proper temps ARE important, diet---exercise---natural sunlight are equally important....not just high humidity...

I totally agree with this. The three components of hydration are important (hydration, soil moisture and ambient air humidity) as well as temperatures being not too cold but also not too hot. But, there are other factors that go along with the above that are equally important to a tortoise's good growth including a correct diet, enough space to be active as well as correct lighting. While there are good artificial lights, it's really tough to beat natural sunlight, fresh air and being exposed to all things outdoors for a tortoise. After all, that is their element, the outdoors!