Oh Lord someone mentioned pyramiding again ! Surely its just a congenital formation like long noses or an overbite. By the Way thank you Yvonne for posting a pic of pyramiding , if it wasn't for that pic I would still be thinking of Egypt .
not convinced about pyramiding
- Thread starter puffy137
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Pyramiding is caused by low humidity, since in the wild when they are born the humidity is higher. We have lots of threads about this. Any hatchling tortoise can turn smooth with the perfect humidity and temperaturesOh Lord someone mentioned pyramiding again ! Surely its just a congenital formation like long noses or an overbite. By the Way thank you Yvonne for posting a pic of pyramiding , if it wasn't for that pic I would still be thinking of Egypt .
Members such as @Tom have been breeding tortoises for years without pyramiding happening.
Thats mainly because the average monthly humidity for summer here (since it rises and falls throughout the day) is about %60. Which is perfect for Greek hatchlings
Just do this:Thanks Abdulla, you must be right as always. although its more humid further down the Gulf where you are than here. I'm now wondering what I shall do if they produce 12 offspring every year.
1- Bigger enclosure
2- females alone and males alone
Ah yes suggestion 2 could be a possibility, although I like watching their interactions. I've just come to the conclusion that the 'male' that was being harassed is really a female. Its slightly concave plastron caused the confusion , but I now see that its gular horn is intact , whereas the other males gulars have been damaged from so much 'ramming' clunk clunk. I had to reinforce their new home today with duct tape, ( its made from polystyrene) & if left to themselves they carve extra doors , which defeat the object & end up looking scruffy. No one wants a scruffy tortoise abode.
No one wants a scruffy tortoise abode.
Baby tortoises don't stay above ground after they hatch out. If they did, they wouldn't live very long...they would be food for other animals, or they would cook in the sun. So they stay below ground where it is more humid. I don't know about Greek tortoises, but what we mostly talk about when referring to pyramiding is sulcata and leopard tortoises, which hatch during the monsoon season in Africa. During this season there is quite a bit of water, new grasses, and humidity. These babies don't grow bumpy shells because of it. But here in captivity, we have been taught in the old days, to keep them dry because they come from the desert. That's why there are so many bumpy sulcatas and leopards in captivity. Dry = bumpy tortoises
What is it you are not convinced about?
You think pyramiding is a "congenital formation"? What does that mean to you?
You think pyramiding is a "congenital formation"? What does that mean to you?
Pyramiding can be a sign of something you're not doing right. Pyramiding is caused by dry dry environments, which can also lead to respiratory problems, shedding skin issues, and an overall unhealthy tort.
That is a tort that has pyramiding caused fro years of dry environments and bad care.
Now, not trying to be harsh or anything, but does that look good? Not just cosmetics, either. Health wise. Tortoises shells are supposed to be ROUND and SMOOTH. Domed. (most species) If that tort in the pic has received proper humidity during it;s whole life, it could've looked like
this-
- which is what a sulcata is SUPPOSED to look like. Anyway, so you have greeks, right?
That doesn't look, good, does it?
Bunches better.
That is a tort that has pyramiding caused fro years of dry environments and bad care.
Now, not trying to be harsh or anything, but does that look good? Not just cosmetics, either. Health wise. Tortoises shells are supposed to be ROUND and SMOOTH. Domed. (most species) If that tort in the pic has received proper humidity during it;s whole life, it could've looked like
this-
- which is what a sulcata is SUPPOSED to look like. Anyway, so you have greeks, right?That doesn't look, good, does it?
Bunches better.
Humidity is necessary....but is not the only factor in a healthy tort and a healthy tort shell....
