How bad is this tortoise pyramiding?

Status
Not open for further replies.

TortTopper

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
46
Hey guys, just recently adopted this sulcata from my neighbour who obviously did not take good care of it. When I saw it I immediately saw the pyramiding and offered to adopt it. I would just like to know how bad the it's pyramiding is. From a scale of 1 - 10, 1 being the least amount of pyramiding to 10 being a very bad form of pyramiding.

Heres a pic:
3AskTIw.jpg
 

Tortus

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2012
Messages
970
Location (City and/or State)
Maryland
I guess it depends on your definition of "bad". I'm no expert neither, but it looks like all new growth has gone up. It doesn't look terrible at this stage to me. Maybe you can get it under control before it gets too big.
 

mainey34

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2012
Messages
3,770
Location (City and/or State)
Peoria, Arizona
Lets just say that the tort has pyramiding..best thing to do is to correct it now...lots of sunshine, humidity, greens. They key factor is humidity......
 

luvpetz27

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2012
Messages
2,841
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio USA
I am glad you have him know and can take better care of him! He is very pretty and doesnt look that bad to me.
Enjoy him :)
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,660
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
It doesn't look that bad to me. Pyramiding is just cosmetic if s/he has been raised healthy/properly.
 

TortoiseWorld

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2012
Messages
478
Location (City and/or State)
Lisle Illinois
Yes he is pyramiding, so you need to change some things to stop it, humidity, nutrition, UVB light etc.
Here is some pics of some older Sulcata with a normal carapace.

Dscn2737.jpg
sulcata-tortoise-3-500.jpg
sulcata_breeding.JPG
sulcata-tortoise-2-500.jpg
sulcata-tortoise.jpg
DSCN2975.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:

sibi

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Messages
6,486
Location (City and/or State)
Florida, USA
I don't think it's too bad either. You still have a pretty defined circular shell with no apparent dents anywhere. Really, what an owner should be more concerned with are soft spots either on the plastron or the carapace. This tort is beyond repairing what has been done; however, you can totally prevent further pyramiding by giving him a proper diet, lots of sunshine, warmth and humidity. Oh and don't forget the cuttlebone and calcium supplement. Best to you both.
 

RedfootsRule

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2012
Messages
938
Location (City and/or State)
Miami, Florida
wellington said:
It doesn't look that bad to me. Pyramiding is just cosmetic if s/he has been raised healthy/properly.

Despite the common belief...Pyramiding is not cosmetic. The bones of pyramided tortoises are fibrous, thick and porous, when they should be hard, thin and dense. When the bones are in this state, it becomes even easier for them to deform, and thus pyramid further....Thats why it is so hard to "reverse" pyramiding. While its not terribly harmful...Its still not just cosmetic.
 

Laura

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2007
Messages
7,502
Location (City and/or State)
Foothills above Sacramento CA
I dont know how to grade that.. but you can stop it.. Sunshine, diet and calcium.. with lots of hydration.
 

ascott

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Apr 10, 2011
Messages
16,138
Location (City and/or State)
Apple Valley, California
Despite the common belief...Pyramiding is not cosmetic. The bones of pyramided tortoises are fibrous, thick and porous, when they should be hard, thin and dense. When the bones are in this state, it becomes even easier for them to deform, and thus pyramid further....Thats why it is so hard to "reverse" pyramiding. While its not terribly harmful...Its still not just cosmetic.

I agree. Also, that tort is beautiful and will benefit from being cared for in a more positive way. Food, exercise, sunshine and hydration are so very important ---so, good job on the new tort ;)
 

surie_the_tortoise

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2012
Messages
220
Location (City and/or State)
findlay,ohio
could be a lot worse. like many have said do the right thing for this guy and it wont get any worse. humidity humidity and more humidity
 

diamondbp

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2012
Messages
3,331
It's not to bad yet. My brother gave me his female sulcata when she was that size and age with about the same pyramiding. This is her now,,, it never goes away completely but becomes much less noticeable with proper care n time. Good luck
 

Attachments

  • image-522867841.png
    image-522867841.png
    1.3 MB · Views: 190

Levi the Leopard

IXOYE
10 Year Member!
Joined
Oct 1, 2012
Messages
7,958
Location (City and/or State)
Southern Oregon
diamondbp said:
It's not to bad yet. My brother gave me his female sulcata when she was that size and age with about the same pyramiding. This is her now,,, it never goes away completely but becomes much less noticeable with proper care n time. Good luck

even this sully is a fantastic looking one compared to many i've seen :)
 

TortTopper

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
46
Ok thank you guys for the help! So far the young tort's shell has become very hard since I've been giving a good amount of calcium and sunlight. :)
 

Linzbragg

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2011
Messages
259
Mine looked a lot like this when I got her a year ago but with the changes I made to her lifestyle and that you'll do with yours, she has made big improvements. Congrats on saving the one you have!
 

Attachments

  • image-1001360681.png
    image-1001360681.png
    1.3 MB · Views: 84

EllieN

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Messages
197
Location (City and/or State)
SF Bay Area
Here's an example of bad pyramiding. This tort's older than yours, so yours will never get to this stage, but if you want to see a 9 or 10....
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7619.JPG
    IMG_7619.JPG
    2 MB · Views: 110

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,390
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
This tortoise has quite a few growth spurts under very dry conditions. For as young/small as it is, there really shouldn't be that many growth ridges. I think he's more than likely very dehydrated, and its going to take quite a bit of frequent soakings to get him re-hydrated. Don't try to turn it around all at once. We are just starting to realize that going from extremely dry to overly moist all in one whack is harmful to the tortoise. Introduce him to a moist environment slowly over time.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top