Tropical and Leopard tortoise pyramiding

[KoopaDaTroopa]

Why do I see so many leopard and tropical tortoises mainly red foots and cherry head tortoises pyramided? Why dosent this happen to other desert tortoise species like sulcata as often?

 

[Ray--Opo]

It mostly has to do with proper humidity in the enclosure. Believe me sulcata's have the same problem. Once my sulcata's were moved outdoors full-time in Florida. The pyramiding that happened when younger was not terrible. So as they are grew bigger. It helped smooth some of the pyramiding out. They are not completely smooth. But I believe the full-time natural humidity. Helped slow it down. Smaller breeds don't grow as much. So if the breeder started them dry. That's one strike against you. Then if the enclosures aren't kept at the proper humidity level. Which takes persistence all the time. You can end up with more pyramiding. Smooth carapace is in my opinion. A tough thing to achieve. Especially if started out dry when new borns.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

There is speculation that some species are more prone to pyramiding than others. But I don't think that it is a clear cut divide between arid and tropical species.