Pyramiding Problems

[Radamila]

I’ve got young Sulcata Tortoise from previous owner in poor condition (dirty, covered with poop, even poop in her mouth, which is disgusting to me...). She already had pyramids on the top of her plastron! I keep her clean, she eats good (always fresh greens, sprinkled with calcium), she has all her lamps and heating pads, she doesn’t eat her own excrements, she gets her regular soaks and bath with soft brush. When I put her outside in the yard, she is looking for some animal poop... I got her dry cow pies (they are safe, has enzymes form cow guts, “made” from grass...), much healthier than any other digested food. And she munching on those dry cow pies, that she needs for her digestive system.
Question 1: What do you think about adding cow pies in Tortoise diet?
Question 2: How to get rid of pyramiding problems on the Plastron?

 

[zovick]

Pyramiding on the plastron? Are you sure you don't mean the carapace? The plastron is the bottom shell rather than the top of the tortoise. None of your photos show the plastron. I have never seen pyramiding on the plastron of a tortoise.

If you meant the top shell or carapace, once the pyramiding is there, it won't go away, but you can keep it from continuing and getting worse. The best way to prevent it from getting worse is to provide constant humidity of about 85% and soak the tortoise daily in lukewarm water for 15-20 minutes in addition to providing a good source of UV light and a good diet with adequate calcium and vitamin supplements.

 

[Maggie3fan]

Here is a care sheet to help. And a picture of Mary who was badly pyramided when I got her. Follow the instructions in the care sheet, and pyramiding will stop. It won't go away completely, but it will help

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Radamila]

Here is a care sheet to help. And a picture of Mary who was badly pyramided when I got her. Follow the instructions in the care sheet, and pyramiding will stop. It won't go away completely, but it will help

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

View attachment 318098

Thank you so much for your reply! Unfortunately when you get rescued Tortoises that already have some health issues, it is hard to fix them permanently, but I will do my best to Keep Miriam healthy!
Can you tell us more about your Tortoise and how you got Mary?

 

[Radamila]

Pyramiding on the plastron? Are you sure you don't mean the carapace? The plastron is the bottom shell rather than the top of the tortoise. None of your photos show the plastron. I have never seen pyramiding on the plastron of a tortoise.

If you meant the top shell or carapace, once the pyramiding is there, it won't go away, but you can keep it from continuing and getting worse. The best way to prevent it from getting worse is to provide constant humidity of about 85% and soak the tortoise daily in lukewarm water for 15-20 minutes in addition to providing a good source of UV light and a good diet with adequate calcium and vitamin supplements.

Thanks for your response! I am sorry, I was in a hurry to write my question and made a mistake : the small pyramids are on her carapace... I know this happens from bad/low fiber diet, lack of calcium, Vit D, UV (sunlight), exercise... I am trying to learn more about this problem (MBD)and to help my Miriam to stay healthy!
BTW, Happy Birthday ??? to you!

 

[Maggie3fan]

Thank you so much for your reply! Unfortunately when you get rescued Tortoises that already have some health issues, it is hard to fix them permanently, but I will do my best to Keep Miriam healthy!
Can you tell us more about your Tortoise and how you got Mary?

I operated a small special needs turtle and tortoise rescue for a buncha years. Mary was found walking in downtown Portland Oregon about 4 years ago. All my animals are rescues.