Does anyone know what 'Pyramidding' means About Tortoise Shells?

Answer 1

Pyramiding means that the tortoise's shell is getting too bumpy. Each of those plates that make up the shell are getting too prominant. It's not a good thing and has to do with it's diet. A protein imbalance or a calcium/phosphorous imbalance.

http://www.theturtleranch.com/DefBrutus.html
http://www.anapsid.org/sulcata.html

spazrats

Answer 2

It is when the sections on a tortoise's shell get very high and pointed, much like a pyramid. It is caused by poor husbandry and mineral imbalance by improper feeding. Once it's happened, there's not much that can be done to undo it, but you van prevent the problem from getting worse by correcting the diet.
Many tortoises normally have the sections of their shell slightly raise as they age; that is normal. It's when it gets pronounced that it is referred to as pyramidding.
A good dient for a tortoise is dark leafy greens such as romaine, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens (make sure they have not been sprayed with pesticides or weed killer or anything), as well as shredded carrots and sliced up zucchinni. Add diced apple and some sliced up melon and you have a meal that your tortoise will love (make sure you tear up the leavs into small pieces).

Answer 3

There is a picture of a normal sulcata shell and a pyramidded one at http://www.sulcata-station.org/specpix1.html - the top picture has a tortoise with a normal top shell, and the ones below it show a tortoise with pyramidding.

Basically, instead of growiwng smothly, each section of the shell (called a scute) raised up in the middle to look sort of like a pyramid.

Katrina

Answer 4

When the scutes on the back of a tortoise's shell grow in small pyramid shapes, and it is not supposed to, it is called 'pyramidding'.

It usually indicates a long-term malnutrition- too much protein or grains, poor vitamin mix, poor calcium-phosphorous ratios, etc.

The bad thing is that it also usually indicates internal problems- bad bone growth, internal organ problems and so forth.

Turtles can usually be rehabilitated, but it takes a while and they may always be deformed.

Answer 5

It happens when they aren't fed well (could be too much protien.) The shell, as it is growing, grows into little pyramids on the top of the shell. Turtles like cuddle bones just like birds do and it's good for them. Keep the turtle cage out of direct sunlight. Stay away from comercial turtle food and feed them crickets, earthworms, feeder fish, grapes, berries, dandelion greens, brine shrimp, and bloodworms. Keep the diet interesting and not too much mealworms, only as a snack.