Pyramiding
 

Before I started to research tortoises prior to my purchase of my Leopard tortoise I thought that pyramiding was a natural part of tortoise development. I now, of course, fully realise that the condition is not normal and that steps can be taken to prevent it. What I would like to know is, what detrimental effect pyramiding has on the general health of the tortoise?

Here's a thread to look through :D

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=18782

Danny

What a great thread - not seen this one before :grin:

That's is very interesting to read :-)
Are some torts bumpy anyway? And meant to be? I've seen a lot of documentaries since having one and a lot of wild torts aren't smooth.
A lot of horsfields, for example, don't seem to have a shell as smooth as other species, is that a characteristic of the shell or pyramiding?
Something I've always wondered x

Never seen a Horsfields in the wild that was pyramided. Ridges on the carapace aren't the same as pyramiding. You will see sometimes Spur-thighs, Leopard and Star tortoises that are pyramided in the wild. Most likely those particular animals picked places to sleep at night (when they were first hatched) that were to dry and they became dehydrated. They probably did this over a few months and this would affect their ability to use the calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D3 that they ingest. Therefore pyramiding slightly.

Danny

Thank you. I think I get ridges and pyramiding mixed up.

Thanks for the reply, it's all making sense now. Being a new tortoise owner I've read so many conflicting ideas. I first saw a pic of a very badly pyramided sulcata and was hugely impressed, I thought he looked amazing with this massive armoured shell covered in pyramids, how wrong I was now that I've learnt better.