Shell assesment

[pugsandkids]

Hubby thinks that Tank is pyramiding, I'm pretty sure that he's fine. Will you please take a look and give me your opinions? And look how big he is getting!




That's Logan hamming it up.

 

[tyguy35]

To me it does look like slight pyramiding. But nothing that harmful how os tank being kept.

Also someone with more knowledge on sulcatas will answer soon

 

[wellington]

Yes there is def. pyramiding. How old is he? Do you soak him and how often and what is the humidity? If he is older, there might not be much you can do. The best time to stop it is when they are young. However, you can still make the environment more correct and it might help the new growth grow in smoother.

 

[pugsandkids]

See that's the issue, I just got him a few months ago, he's already three. I soak him daily, he's in a 40 gallon breeder when he's not outside. Sprayed twice a day, with hides on each end. He is outside for as many hours as I can each day. (today he'll get 4hrs out, i got off work at 5) PowerSun bulb, spring mix supplemented with Mazuru, weeds, flowers, and veggie trimmings.

 

[wellington]

The good bigger problem, is you really had no control over it in the first place. It all pretty much is determined in its first few days, weeks of it's life and if it is started out humid or dry. The best you can do, is maybe try to get a humid hide box for inside and out and keep doing what you already are, because what you are doing sounds good. Just make sure the humid hide boxes stay warm . Humid/moist and warm good, humid/moist and cold, bad. So, your doing a good job. It was out of your control to begin with.

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One more thing that I also do, in hoping it works to keep growing smooth. On these really hot days. I spray down the outside enclosure several times a day while he is out there. He gets a squirt too. Brings up the humidity and cools the area a little, we've had 100+ for last several days and hydrates him some.

 

[Laura]

three? as in Years? He is Very small for three years. Im betting that with good food, sunlight and room to roam, he will have a huge growth spurt and it should come in smoother and it will get better in time...

 

[pugsandkids]

We are not too hot yet, but I do turn the sprinkler on in the tort yard for a bit when they are out. He's already grown a bunch, and is a huge chow hound

 

[Linzbragg]

Mine looked like that when I got him 7 months ago at 1 yr old, and he's been smoothing out ever since I have had him on the proper humidity, soaking, good diet, and lots of room to roam. Hopefully Tank will do the same. Do you know how his last owners cared for him because he is small? I only say that based on the size of my sully who's about 20 months and appears to be at least a few inches bigger than Tank.

 

[Tom]

I agree with everyone else. Yes he is pyramiding, and yes it has been going on for a long time. And yes he is small for a 3 year old.

40 gallons is fine to start a brand new hatchling, but it's too small for one that size. He needs something bigger pronto. My hatchlings outgrow the 40 after about two or three months.

 

[pugsandkids]

Absolutely Tom, a deal is in the works to move him into a larger "indoor" area. His previous owner did a lot right, but based on what he came with, his temps were pretty low. She also said that she never took him outside! At what size can they stay out 24/7?

I appreciate the feedback, I'll keep giving him the best care and hopefully he will smooth out!

 

[Tom]

If the temps and conditions are right they can stay outside full time in a safe enclosure at any size. I keep my smaller ones inside at night and cold days because I feel it is safer for them, and because I feel like my monitored and controlled indoor temps and conditions are better for them than what is outside here. Once they get to about 10" or so, I move them outside full time. At this size or bigger, it is really hard to maintain them indoors, and they have enough size and adaptability to handle the great outdoors. By the time mine get around 4-6" they are spending most of every day outside anyway, and I just bring them in at night, or leave them in during the occasional winter cold spell. Brand new hatchlings only go outside for an hour or two for the first few months. Outdoor conditions here are just so dry and hot, that I worry about the tiny ones, and prefer to keep them in more controlled conditions.

 

[pugsandkids]

Great info as always Tom. Do you guys think he'll be stunted? Or can I get him caught up with time?

 

[jason g.]

When I got rose she was 5 months I was told. ( I think she was older now I know more due to her pyramiding ) in 3 months time she sprouted from 2 1/2" to 5" in that little amount of time. Now she is staying 5 1/2 and packing on some weight and her legs are getting so strong that my daughter is scared to hold her cause she kicks so hard and can leave some nice scratches if she wants down.

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When I got rose she was 5 months I was told. ( I think she was older now I know more due to her pyramiding ) in 3 months time she sprouted from 2 1/2" to 5" in that little amount of time. Now she is staying 5 1/2 and packing on some weight and her legs are getting so strong that my daughter is scared to hold her cause she kicks so hard and can leave some nice scratches if she wants down.

 

[Tom]

Great info as always Tom. Do you guys think he'll be stunted? Or can I get him caught up with time?

This is so hard to say. I really don't know the answer yet. My adults were given the dry routine back in the 90's when I got them, and they are definitely small for their age. They were fed lightly and no protein at all, because all the "experts" said that fast growth and protein were the cause of all the rampant pyramiding. BUT, they keep on steadily growing every year. They were only around 40-50 pounds at 10 years old, but now at 14 they are closer to 70-80. So while they are still small for their age, they do keep on catching up year after year. I'm wondering if by 20 they will finally be 100+ or if they will level out and the growth will slow down. They are definitely undersize, but no one can answer for me if they are permanently stunted, or if they will eventually catch up. Time will tell...

Yours is young enough that if you continue with hydration, good food, sunshine and exercise, that I'll bet he catches up much faster than mine did.