What causes pyramiding

[tortoise42]

and how do you prevent it? My tortoise is healthy and I want him to stay that way.

 

[Tom]

Pyramiding is caused by growth in conditions that are too dry. Many captive environments are excessively dry due to people using the wrong substrate, home heating and air conditioning units, and our desiccating artificial heat lamps.

What species and size tortoise are you raising?

 

[tortoise42]

It's a Russian tortoise and he's 5-7 inches long

 

[Tom]

An adult russian male of that size is not going to pyramid as its pretty much done growing.

Here is the care info:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

 

[tortoise42]

thanks

 

[Gillian M]

and how do you prevent it? My tortoise is healthy and I want him to stay that way.

I believe that very dry climate causes it. Keep that in mind if you live in such a climate. I for one have to be extremely careful: I live in Jordan, the climate of which is terribly dry. It's that of a desert.