So I recently discovered today that there is a Sulcata Research Project around where I live and I wanted to share with you guys some of the information they've figured out... Feel free to debate, comment, etc.
DIET
-They believe there is no reason to be feeding grocery bought food. period. (I know that this is definitely not possible for a lot of people)
-Treats should be kept natural. For example, a different kind of flower, grass or weed.
-Overfeeding could possibly be a factor of pyramiding.
SOAKING
-Routine soaking is not good and it is unnatural. There is no proof that soaking prevents or helps pyramiding.
-Soaking interferes with the animal's natural digestive transit time.
-Keeping a pan of water at all times in their enclosure will allow them to use it when they need - they know what they need better than we do.
-"Soaking exposes the animals to a high risk of fungal and bacterial infections."
They provide explanation for why they think soaking may be a contributing factor to pyramiding: "The scutes (keratin) absorb a lot of water and become very soft. The expansion and contraction of the keratin causes a lot of stress on the underlying bone."
TEMPERATURE
-Care sheets recommend "minimum temperatures should never fall below 60 degrees at night and a high of 95 degrees during the day." This is unnatural.
Explanation: "Temperatures in the native habitat of the sulcata tortoise often drop well below 60°F. Turn off the heat and light at night; the tortoises need the cool, dark period of time to simulate their natural cycle"
Note: If you must keep sulcata tortoises in a cold climate, let them cool down to about 50°F (10°C), and warm up slowly so they will eat a little later in the day. Feed them only long-fiber grasses, green or dry, because the fermenting process creates internal core heat. The animal’s core temperature will be maintained more evenly throughout the night.
HUMIDITY
-Caresheets say "They need high humidity - between 80-90%". Also unnatural. They claim field research shows humidity in the wild is 45-50%.
PYRAMIDING
-Protein is not a contributing factor. "Sulcatas get a lot of protein and fat from the seed heads of the native grasses they eat"
-Pyramiding may be caused by too much unnatural sunlight, or too much natural sunlight.
-Soaking may cause pyramiding (explained above)
DIET
-They believe there is no reason to be feeding grocery bought food. period. (I know that this is definitely not possible for a lot of people)
-Treats should be kept natural. For example, a different kind of flower, grass or weed.
-Overfeeding could possibly be a factor of pyramiding.
SOAKING
-Routine soaking is not good and it is unnatural. There is no proof that soaking prevents or helps pyramiding.
-Soaking interferes with the animal's natural digestive transit time.
-Keeping a pan of water at all times in their enclosure will allow them to use it when they need - they know what they need better than we do.
-"Soaking exposes the animals to a high risk of fungal and bacterial infections."
They provide explanation for why they think soaking may be a contributing factor to pyramiding: "The scutes (keratin) absorb a lot of water and become very soft. The expansion and contraction of the keratin causes a lot of stress on the underlying bone."
TEMPERATURE
-Care sheets recommend "minimum temperatures should never fall below 60 degrees at night and a high of 95 degrees during the day." This is unnatural.
Explanation: "Temperatures in the native habitat of the sulcata tortoise often drop well below 60°F. Turn off the heat and light at night; the tortoises need the cool, dark period of time to simulate their natural cycle"
Note: If you must keep sulcata tortoises in a cold climate, let them cool down to about 50°F (10°C), and warm up slowly so they will eat a little later in the day. Feed them only long-fiber grasses, green or dry, because the fermenting process creates internal core heat. The animal’s core temperature will be maintained more evenly throughout the night.
HUMIDITY
-Caresheets say "They need high humidity - between 80-90%". Also unnatural. They claim field research shows humidity in the wild is 45-50%.
PYRAMIDING
-Protein is not a contributing factor. "Sulcatas get a lot of protein and fat from the seed heads of the native grasses they eat"
-Pyramiding may be caused by too much unnatural sunlight, or too much natural sunlight.
-Soaking may cause pyramiding (explained above)