Pyramiding timeline

[alexksquared]

I understand that a lack of humidity and a poor diet can cause pyramiding. But what is the (lack of a better word) timeline for it? Like say would it show up 2 weeks after what affects it? Does it take time to show? I moved my tortoise about 2 months ago. And he has small bumps on his shell on the plates. I'm trying to determine if it was because of the old cage or the new one? They were both in the 70-80% humidity, but the new one is better at keeping it in.

 

[TeamZissou]

It might take a while to see the full effects of changing humidity, depending on the species and size. I doubt you'd be able to tell definitively only two weeks after making a change. It starts to manifest almost like a groove or channel at the scute boundaries, as the new keratin dries out and curls down.

Below is an image that I made a while back showing what a change in enclosure does. This Testudo graeca ibera had smooth growth after hatching for probably a month or two, but then has significantly raised growth after that. I forget the exact age, but it was probably around 5-6 months.

It's possible that your humidity measurement was/is not accurate. Sensors can vary a lot and many people buy dial type gages that are useless.

 

[alexksquared]

Got it. Thank you. He is roughly that size, but a fraction of that pyramiding. I have two humidity gages, one by basking and other in the cool side. The cool is (where his hide is) is around 80%. The basking one changes though. Without the basking lights on (before the timer turns it on), it is at 85%, but when I get home from work it is roughly at 60-65%. I will send a picture of him when I get home.

 

[Tom]

Got it. Thank you. He is roughly that size, but a fraction of that pyramiding. I have two humidity gages, one by basking and other in the cool side. The cool is (where his hide is) is around 80%. The basking one changes though. Without the basking lights on (before the timer turns it on), it is at 85%, but when I get home from work it is roughly at 60-65%. I will send a picture of him when I get home.

What species?

Poor diet can cause all sorts of problems, but pyramiding isn't one of them. Pyramiding is caused by the newly formed keratin at the scute margins drying out too much or too fast.

 

[alexksquared]

What species?

Poor diet can cause all sorts of problems, but pyramiding isn't one of them. Pyramiding is caused by the newly formed keratin at the scute margins drying out too much or too fast.

Margintated. I got him from Chris at Tortoise Haven. He should be roughly 1 year old right now.

 

[alexksquared]

Here he is. Am I being paranoid? Is that recent pyramiding?

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Its hard to tell by those pics.. but it looks like he started pyramiding early and new growth looks better

 

[Tom]

Here he is. Am I being paranoid? Is that recent pyramiding?

The pics are blurry when zoomed in, and the angle is a little too high to tell.

Take pics with a plain white background and the camera on the same surface as the tortoise.

Looks like there was some very mild early pyramiding, but the recent growth looks smooth. I might reconsider with better pics.

 

[alexksquared]

Hope this is better

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Recent growth looks good