Pyramiding

[kit-e-kat]

I have seen a lot of Leopards with what looks like extreme pyramiding. At a presentation at my Tortoise club, there was a cut shell of a pyramided Cal desert tortoise, and it was described as a sort of osteoporoses. It had a negative impact on the well being of that tortoise. Does pyramiding in Leopards have the same type of negative effect?

 

[Stephanie Logan]

You should browse through the mulitple threads on pyramiding in tortoises that are available on TFO...it is a passionate discussion that has ocurred many times...

The short answer is: pyramiding is one condition, and MBD is a separate disease that MAY or may not coincide with pyramiding. Pyramiding alone is very common in Leopard tortoises and in many cases it is only cosmetic and does not cripple the tortoise, whereas Metabolic Bone Disease is more serious and can permanently affect the joints and legs of the tortoise.

Please go through "Debatable Topics", "General Tortoise Discussion" and "Leopard Lounge" and look for threads on pyramiding for several detailed conversations on this topic!