Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here are a couple of pictures I snapped this morning of my
baby.

A reminder he is 1.5 years old. His shell length is 4.5"
and he weighs 300 grams. One photo shows him next to a lotion
bottle to get an idea of his size. He is a little tank.

I don't think his shell looks that bad. What do you guys
think?

Thanks for looking
Linda

While there is some pyramiding it isn't bad. You will also find that as the tortoise grows much of this will smooth out somewhat. This especially true if given access to sunshine and a natural diet. I have raised many redfoots and found that this condition can be improved on and you might be surprised at how little these 'lumps' show up on an adult animal. The key is to correct the causes now.
But again, the carapace doesn't look that bad.

I am not sure what exactly I am doing to cause it. I keep
Peabody on mulch which I mist everyday and then he has a
large rubbermaid container that has moist mulch for humidity.
During the day I am sure the mulch in the main part of his
habitat dries out because of the warm temps. His hide part
though stays pretty cool 70-72 and damp. His temps are about
80-85 depending on where he choses to sit in his enclosure.
I think his diet is good but maybe I am feeding him too much.
Do you think he is overweight at 300 grams. Would you consider
this normal for his age?

I am really trying to avoid an unhealthy, lumpy tortoise

Thanks for posting
Linda

Well what I am going to tell you is strictly my opinion OK?
This may differ from a lot of what you will read in this and other forums...
Personally, I doubt that humidity plays much of a role in pyramiding in redfoots. I have seen many, many redfoots (and I.elongata as well) that were raised outdoors in South Florida and that were kept in well planted and humid gardens. Some of these animals had pyramiding so bad that they looked like they were from outer space! Yet I know that they had humid areas that they could retreat to at will and often they were covered with mud. But, they were fed stuff like monkey biscuit, dog food, iceberg lettuce, etc. They were also often 'pushed' to get them to breeding size. So it is hard for me to imagine that lack of humidity alone "causes" pyramiding although it may be a contributing factor. But it can't be argued that a humid hide box doesn't help them and make them look way better too.
Having said that I will also admit that the worst cases that I have ever seen were redfoots raised indoors (where it is much dryer of course) and where they had little if any access to natural sunlight.
For me, raising them outdoors with lots of edible shrubs and grasses is the most ideal way to raise them and no matter how much of this feed they eat, and no matter how fast they grow, they are always perfect looking. Of course, adding other greens and fruits to their diet along with other foods like Mazuri(sometimes) and the occasional pre-killed mouse only helps. But I don't feed half grown or adult tortoises every day either. I feed these additional foods about every other day depending on the weather.
As far as the weight of your tortoise being 'too heavy' I seriously doubt that. I would worry more if the little guy felt too light. If it is obese it will appear fat around the front and rear legs. At this age and size it will only grow faster if fed more. Unless it has no room to move about, I guess.
As far as correcting is concerned, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Just try and give as varied a diet as you reasonably can, provide a humid hide area, and when possible, allow it to be outside.

With this post you give the impression that humidity, alone, either will cure or cause pyramiding. I think everyone has agreed by now that it is caused by a multiple of factors. In my opinion it is not only the Humidity but the heat and then the nutrition that are the key factors.
As to raising it too quickly... what do you say is a good time frame? I don't pay any attention to time. I provide the environment and the nutrition that I believe is balanced and let nature take it's course. Some grow quick and some grow not so quick and this is within one group.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care