Horrific pyramiding.

[erica anne]

I was visiting with someone today that has 2 two-year-old sulcatas. Being a tortoise lover I was of course excited to see them. The state of those two tortoises was appalling. There pyramiding looked very similar to this.



The owner mentioned wanting to give them up ( they don't even have names! ) and I was wondering what kind of health problems they might have and could their condition be improved?

 

[AustinASU]

Your looking at severe health problems.....especially MBD....people that do this torts need to be shot.....completely preventable.

 

[ascott]

If you adopt them they do so with the mind set that they will come "as is" and they may have a reduced life span and then again, they may just truck on like no ones business.....

 

[BeeBee*BeeLeaves]

People just do not know better with tortoises, which is why TFO as a resource for increasing education on tortoise an turtle care is so wonderful. Manna from heaven! : ) It is a shame that some animals end up the way they do but if some of us can make it better for them, you know they will be grateful! They cross our paths for a reason.

 

[SmileyKylie623]

What I always wonder is how people seem to think it is normal? It's like they don't even stop to think for a second when the pyramiding starts! I just don't get it!

You would think that a lumpy shell would be a bit frightening and would cause anyone with a brain to question what is going on. But no...it's like they don't even notice.

 

[erica anne]

What I always wonder is how people seem to think it is normal? It's like they don't even stop to think for a second when the pyramiding starts! I just don't get it!

You would think that a lumpy shell would be a bit frightening and would cause anyone with a brain to question what is going on. But no...it's like they don't even notice.

I agree. I am surprised that they would think that it would be normal for a tortoise to have a shell like that. All you have to do is hop online for 10 minutes to see what a healthy sulcata is supposed to look like.

 

[DaisyDuke]

Most people I know think pyramiding is normal because they often see it in cartoons and what not. I've had to explain it to quite a few people. But pyramiding THAT bad anybody would know something is wrong.

I really hope you can help those tortoises! If they've only had them a few years and are already thinking about giving them up then they eventually most likely will given how long they normally live.

 

[BeeBee*BeeLeaves]

I think people just blow it off, the taking care and responsibility to that care. The tortoises were darling when they were little, as are all sulcatas. But without intentional care by the owners, they just throw lettuce in and go on with their lives because now it is not as cute. That type of pyramiding is artificial lighting all day every day during their formative baby years and turn-me-into-jerky dry, as we all know now based on the experts on this forum and their evidence based conclusions. Proof is in. And yes, if people do not seek information, they will not find it so obviously the cuteness wore off, the emotional attachment is not there and their once darling pets simply exist, not thrive, but with ugly damage now. Which is why the learning from this forum is so vital, for pets like these that are out there. They deserve better.

 

[Sh3wulf]

I have a friend with a Sulcata that they "rescued" from a very irresponsible owner. Your picture could be Miracle. She's a beautiful tort with a very outgoing personality and she's about 60 years old and a tank of a tortoise. About every couple weeks she completely takes it upon herself to rearrange her entire pen. She snorts, grunts and hisses while she works and you can almost make out the laughter as this behavior makes my OCD friend completely mental.
Hopefully these torts will be similar and just have the unfortunate case of pyramid shell with none of the other health problems.

 

[Yvonne G]

I think that it happens so gradually that the keepers don't realize its not normal.

 

[mctlong]

Hopefully its just pyramiding. The tort in the pic appears to have MBD going on which can cause some serious skeletal deformity in addition to the shell bumpiness. Poor thing.

Your friends torts are still fairly young at 2 years old. There's a chance that the pyramiding appears bad, but is mostly cosmetic without serious underlying issues. There's also a chance that the animals have underlying and internal issues caused by neglect which could result in costly vet bills. Taking them in is a gamble. Do you have the time and resources to care for sick animals if it comes to that?

 

[EllieN]

Erica Anne, what part of the country are you in? If you don't rescue them, someone has to.

 

[erica anne]

Hopefully its just pyramiding. The tort in the pic appears to have MBD going on which can cause some serious skeletal deformity in addition to the shell bumpiness. Poor thing.

Your friends torts are still fairly young at 2 years old. There's a chance that the pyramiding appears bad, but is mostly cosmetic without serious underlying issues. There's also a chance that the animals have underlying and internal issues caused by neglect which could result in costly vet bills. Taking them in is a gamble. Do you have the time and resources to care for sick animals if it comes to that?

The medical expenses was my concern. I want them to get the help they need but want to make sure that I knew what I might be dealing with. If they give them up I don't know how I could say no! (they already put out feelers if I would be interested)

---

Erica Anne, what part of the country are you in? If you don't rescue them, someone has to.

We live in Arizona and I believe they have had plenty of sunlight exposure. Unfortunately they live in a ten gallon tank together when they are not outside. I did not see any set up for lighting or heating and their primary diet is romaine lettuce. They don't have hides or humidity. The owner actually believed they will only grow to the size of their container! I agree, if asked to take them I would, just worry about their care costs. I feel horrible knowing the conditions they are living in.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

I would think, other than providing water for them, calcium would be the next followed by a fecal. The calcium could be in the form of limestone flour which is what I use. Very inexpensive, naturally organic.

 

[Yvonne G]

Two sulcatas in a 10 gallon tank??????? OMG!!!!!! That is cruel and unusual punishment. This gives further credence to my view that exercise plays an important role in pyramiding, right up there with humidity and hydration.

 

[immayo]

Very sad!

 

[EllieN]

Erica Anne, if you do a search using "rescue" you'll find the Tortoise Rescue Network here at the Tortoise Forum. If you think you may not be able to provide these two torts with a permanent home (if their owner decides to give them up), post on that thread and maybe you can get help with them there.

Does anyone know why the TRN doesn't have it's own thread on the main Forums page? Or is it there and I'm just blind?

 

[Laura]

take them, and re home them if you have too. but get them out of there...
good food, sunshine and exercise..

 

[erica anne]

Erica Anne, if you do a search using "rescue" you'll find the Tortoise Rescue Network here at the Tortoise Forum. If you think you may not be able to provide these two torts with a permanent home (if their owner decides to give them up), post on that thread and maybe you can get help with them there.

Does anyone know why the TRN doesn't have it's own thread on the main Forums page? Or is it there and I'm just blind?

Thank you!