Pyramiding in Sulcata and Leopard tortoises To prevent pyramiding it has been shown by numerous people that a Sulcata or Leopard tortoise hatchling and yearling (1-5 years old) should be kept in a enclosure were the humidity is around 80%. The most practical way to keep the humidity around 80% is with a closed chamber of some sort. Simply put, pyramiding is caused by growth in conditions that are too dry. This is true for any species of tortoise, even the ones that dont typically pyramid. Pyramiding: This is also true for a Leopard tortoises I will simply state here what I know to be true based on my experience, my experiments, conversations with people who live in Africa and study African tortoises, people who have kept them for decades here in the U.S., and personal observations. There are many things listed as causes of pyramiding. I can refute each one with multiple examples. Lack of UV, lack of calcium, too much protein, too much food, the wrong foods, fast growth, wrong temperatures, small enclosures, not enough exercise, indoor housing, etc. None of these factors CAUSES pyramiding. They can all be somehow related to it, but they dont cause it. Simply put, pyramiding is caused by growth in conditions that are too dry. This is true for any species of tortoise, even the ones that dont typically pyramid. To prevent pyramiding I use a closed chamber and keep the ambient temperature 80 or higher all the time, I keep humidity around 80%, I offer a humid hide that holds 95-100% humidity, I soak daily to ensure good hydration, and I spray the carapace with plain water several times a day. Sulcatas hatch during the African rainy season. It is hot, humid, rainy and marshy. It makes no sense to keep them in a dry box, with dry substrate, and a hot desiccating bulb overhead. Simulating this rainy season can produce Sulcata babies with smooth shells. So please, dont keep sulcatas in desert-style enclosures. It is not healthy for them. They are not the least bit prone to shell rot, like some other species are, and they DO NOT get respiratory infections from high humidity as long as temps are 80 or higher everywhere in the enclosure, day and night. Tom has raised hundreds of hatchlings in this manner with no problems.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 11:13:51 +0000