african spur theighed tortoise

[dzb912]

im getting one in the future and i was puzzled when i was looking at this video...
http://reptilestv.com/video/turtles/spur_thighed_tortoise/03.htm
she states that when these torts get lumps on theyre shells its a sign of too much protien..
but on this site these torts have lumps on theyre shells
http://www.reptileguru.com/searchresult.aspx?CategoryID=9
which is one of the reasons why i feel these animals are so attractive
did she mean something else?
or do all of these have the lumps on theyre shells?

 

[arowana man]

its called pyramiding. its from to much protein

 

[Jeox]

its pyramiding.
sulcatas are supposed to have a diet made up mostly of grasses. people don't give them it, and they end up pyrimyded.

EDIT: if you like the look of the bumps, i'd just adopt one from a tortoise rescue. there are tons that need homes, and virtually all of the rescue ones are pyrimided

 

[dzb912]

whats the site?
and i was looking for a baby

 

[Jeox]

whats the site?
and i was looking for a baby

Local rescues sometimes have babies.
In any case, it won't stay little for long. they can hit 3lbs in the first year.

 

[lophius]

Pyramiding doesn't necessarily have anything to do with too much protein - it is largely related to humidity - sulcatas come from arid grass land environments that are Hot and very dry - diet should be almost exclusively grass.

Too much protein will of course have implications for liver function, fat storage etc and will lead to health problems.

carl

 

[davo]

Once they have pyramided (for use of a better word) what effects does this have in later life, for example if you have rescued it and then give it the proper care. Does it shorten lifespans or lead to bigger problems down the road?

 

[Jeox]

Once they have pyramided (for use of a better word) what effects does this have in later life, for example if you have rescued it and then give it the proper care. Does it shorten lifespans or lead to bigger problems down the road?

As far as i know the only effects of it are looks.

 

[dzb912]

Local rescues sometimes have babies.
In any case, it won't stay little for long. they can hit 3lbs in the first year.

3 lbs first year isnt bad at all lol

 

[coura]

Once they have pyramided (for use of a better word) what effects does this have in later life, for example if you have rescued it and then give it the proper care. Does it shorten lifespans or lead to bigger problems down the road?

There are consequenses. In my opinion this condicion has 70% to do with nutricion and 30% to do with humity. This stuff mostly apears on tortoises fed on high protein, high moisture, high phosporus ,low calcium and low fiber diets. Also animals that are not exposed to UV ligth are more prone to it. MBD very often joins hands with piramidism resulting in a very tricky thing to deal with. Weak and deformed bones, liver and kidney problems, stuned growth ,etc are a few of many potencial letal consequences. This health problem must be avoided at all costs