Samples of Pyramiding

A question that gets asked very often is "What is pyramiding?" Pyramiding is a catch all term for a turtle or tortoise with a shell that has not grown normally. Often this is a result of high protein diets but there can be environmental factors as well such as lack of sunlight, incorrect humidity and even possible genetic factors. Here are some examples.  Pyramiding is somewhat reversible once the diet or environmental factor has been fixed.  The shell that has already grown will have a pyramided look to it but new shell will start rounding it, out so earlier the better.  A tortoise who is nearly mature and basically done growing not much can be done.  Another interesting tidbit is that more northern tortoise owners experience pyramiding than those in the south.  Again possibly influenced by climate, and diet, since many tortoises in the south can remain out year round.

Pyramided	Non Pyramided
Geochelone carbonaria - Redfoot Tortoise	Geochelone carbonaria - Redfoot Tortoise
Geochelone pardalis - Leopard Tortoise photo courtosy of http://www.petoftheday.com	Geochelone pardalis - Leopard Tortoise
Geochelone sulcata - African Spurred Tortoise	Geochelone sulcata - African Spurred Tortoise