Orion Pax Update

[Yellow Turtle]

Here is Orion Pax, the only babcocki left from the two I have from last year. The other died after suffering from parasites like illness early this year.

I was wondering whether he is a runt as he doesn't really grow for quite some time. So it surprised me when I finally saw some growth starting last August. He gained like 1 cm from August to October and now is SCL 9 cm. Last year he is only around SCL 8 cm and stays at that size till last August.

He is fully outdoor and I think he has developed some pyramiding for his new growths. He doesn't prefer to hide under the plants even on hottest days while sleeping. So here are his recent pictures and please share your comments on his new growths and pyramiding stage.

 

[hanzel]

Hello little fella,he has a nice development shell

 

[mike taylor]

He looks good to me. But it would not hurt to put a sprinkler on timer to add a liitle humidity.

 

[Yvonne G]

That's a beautiful tortoise! I don't see evidence of any pyramiding...you're doing a great job with him. Some tortoises just grow more slowly than others. Since he's outside all the time, maybe your weather isn't warm enough for faster growth.

Be sure to keep all the poop cleaned off from around the cloaca.

 

[wellington]

He looks pretty smooth to me too. I can see what you think might be pyramiding though. I would add some more humidity to maybe a hide box to keep him going smooth.

 

[Yellow Turtle]

Hello little fella,he has a nice development shell

Hii hanzel, I'd think he has a bit crevice, just want to have others' opinions

He looks good to me. But it would not hurt to put a sprinkler on timer to add a liitle humidity.

Thank you mike. We do that manually, just pour or spray some water on him.

That's a beautiful tortoise! I don't see evidence of any pyramiding...you're doing a great job with him. Some tortoises just grow more slowly than others. Since he's outside all the time, maybe your weather isn't warm enough for faster growth.

Be sure to keep all the poop cleaned off from around the cloaca.

Thank you Yvonne. Yes I think you are correct. Starting June, it's been very hot and dry, so maybe that spurts his growth.
That's actually not poop. I just spray some water on the ground and muds sticking on his cloaca when I pick him for pictures.

He looks pretty smooth to me too. I can see what you think might be pyramiding though. I would add some more humidity to maybe a hide box to keep him going smooth.

I've tried to encourage him to hide, but so far he prefers to stick to the open area while resting/sleeping. Well this month is monsoon, and next month should rain much more. Lets see whether he still prefers to stay in the muddy ground during big rain

A bit more information about Orion is that he is so picky that he won't eat or eat very few if I mix everything to his diet. Actually I give up mixing all kind of diet and only relying on the grocery greens he prefers and give some calcium and vitamin supplement. But somehow he started to graze on his own after I only give the groceries. So that makes me more comfortable with his care now.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

I would not refer to that as a pyramided leopard.
He looks smooth and sweet