This Makes Me Sooooo Mad!!!!!

See..... this is the crap that pi**es me off - look at the poor guys pyramiding - Gosh I wish I could take him!!!

http://denver.craigslist.org/pet/540413178.html

This is why people that come on these forums saying they want a Sully are given the business and warned about the commitment these Torts require... this is the crap that happens more than not!!! GRRRRRRR :frustrate:frustrate:frustrate:frustrate

ive actually seen perfectly healthy adults with that type of pyramiding. maybe not quite as prominent, but I did not know that would happen, i know they grow up not out if left in a tank.

some one school me what causes that??

I dont even know Ed, I've never quite seen it like that, im interested too

maybe light?

This is a good link to get started learning about pyramiding
http://www.turtlestuff.com/pyramid.html I want to tell more from personal experience I had with a rescue, but it will have to wait till tomorrow!!! Have to take daughter to DR.

Oh man. Poor guy. I too was out of the loop so to speak, as I have never kept turtles. Now that I read through that link I see what you are talking about.

I'd like to hear your rescue story. Please post when you get back!!

yeah ive seen some pretty nasty sulcata shells, its pretty sad how people just think some food and a light will do

two hours of natural sunlight is more beneficial than all day under the best uv bulb

You'll have to forgive me as I know nothing about these guys, other than they have to be some of the cutest reptiles out there.

So these guys actually require natural light? As apposed to artificial UVA/UVB that we can provide? Or both if they lived indoors, including a pretty special diet?

I wouldnt say a "special" diet, just a diverse diet.

And yes, natural light is a must for these guys!

Makes sense. I have always wanted one, but never really read anything about them. I just always thought they were so cute.

thats so so sad and its something that cannot be cured...:mad:

It happens, sadly alot more.
With people not understanding the requirements of a tortoise, things will happen such as what E has posted.

But specially with sulcatas, they need alot of attention, cleaning, and commitment.
Theyre very large species, and need loads of room to move around.
Now, 1 would be bad enough! but 4 or 5 is way to much unless you've got the time, the patience, and the commitment if you can give it.

Obviously in this case, the owner has either over fed or given the wrong care, if not then its pure neglect.
Poor guy, maybe the owner has too many and realises that now! and thinks on no ive done something bad QUICK SALE!

Sorry to post this yesterday and run. I only have access to a computer during the days!!

My son got his RT just over a year ago and that gave me the "tort bug", however I am no expert, and do not claim to be. I have just become very patssionate about torts and want to learn so I have and continue to do lots of research. I am just trying to pass on what I have learned, maybe it will help prevent this from happening, even if it just helps one tort!! I try to be involved with the rescue society, they offer a lot of education, I have learned a lot from them as well.

This is a Sully that the society rescued - he like all torts that have pyrmiding will never "out grow" the pyramiding, it will always be there. If they are lucky they will live through it and not suffer. Some pyrmiding is so severe that it "squishes" them like a pancake, sooooo sad.

Here he is with my son, my son is 8 here just to give you a size reference and I think the tort is over 150 lbs:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...ock/Merlin.jpg http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...ck/TMerlin.jpghttp://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...k/TMerlin2.jpg
He is a perminent resident of the rescue society and gets along pretty well, he is fortunate.

This guy is not:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...latPyramid.jpg
This is when it gets really bad and starts to flatten out and "squish" their little bodies in between their shells.

If you read the link I attached you saw that this is caused by improper diets, lack of sun and exercise.

These are the species that it is OK that you see pyrmading on:
Indian Star:http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...IndianStar.jpg Sri Lankan Star:http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...LankanStar.jpg South African Tents: http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...AfricaTent.jpg Pyxis:http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...lock/Pyxis.jpg

Thanks for reading, sometimes I just can't hold my tongue::tongue2:

I do want to add one more thing, as I have run across this in a lot of research I have come across. It is not uncommon to see some pyrmading in captive torts. One theory is humidity levels as young torts, young torts in the wild tend to keep dug down into burrows trying to stay away from being a meal for a bigger preditor.

But there is a difference between this mild pyrmading and what I showed you.

theres a number of different pyramiding LEVELS i guess you could say.

Theres slight pyramiding mostly due to over feeding abit too much.
Then theres mild pyramiding usually down to lots of food again or something like bad start in life.

Then theres just horrorfying pyramding! which is just upsetting.

Im no expert, i dont believe i am either advanced nor expert in tortoises.
But i do study alot, ive always liked reptiles since i was 4 i kinda grew up with them, family and friends have had tortoises, turtles, frogs, toads, newts and snakes.
And i always loved to watch them in their aquariums and in the garden.