Re: Slight pyramiding in sulcata's shell growth, why?

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Posted by Freight on August 17, 2001 at 17:31:35:

In Reply to: Re: Slight pyramiding in sulcata's shell growth, why? posted by Justin on August 17, 2001 at 09:35:00:

Sulcatas are designed to eat a very low nutrient diet that is low in water content, so they tend to do best on grasses and hay that has a low protein content. When we got our Sulcata he had bad pyramiding, and was eating a diet of mixed veggies and was kept in a very small enclosure. Over a long period of time, I got him to accept a mixture of hay and greens and his shell is now growing normally, although he may never fully outgrow all the pyramids. If you can get the hay/grass into their diet now, it could very well help to alleviate or at least lessen the pyramids.

Alfalfa hay is high in protein, so I'll caution you to either not use it, or use very little, as it could cause the continuation of the pyramids.We use a hay that is grown locally and is comprised mostly of a natural sweet meadow grass, and I mix it with small amounts of either chickory, turnip greens, escarole, occasional red/green leaf and romaine lettuce.He's really picky, so you may have luck with other things that mine won't eat.
I have also found that getting them as much outdoor exercise does wonders for slowing their growth and keeping them happy too!

Good luck!
Freight
: Pyramiding is a direct result of metabolic rate. It has to do with many factors:

: Availlable calcium
: Amount of D3 availlable to use calcium
: Calories in diet
: Exercise
: Temperature
: Fiber intake

: Many of these factors can not be properly maintaned, while the animals is inside.

: Justin

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: Sulcatas are designed to eat a very low nutrient diet that is low in water content, so they tend to do best on grasses and hay that has a low protein content. When we got our Sulcata he had bad pyramiding, and was eating a diet of mixed veggies and was kept in a very small enclosure. Over a long period of time, I got him to accept a mixture of hay and greens and his shell is now growing normally, although he may never fully outgrow all the pyramids. If you can get the hay/grass into their diet now, it could very well help to alleviate or at least lessen the pyramids. : Alfalfa hay is high in protein, so I'll caution you to either not use it, or use very little, as it could cause the continuation of the pyramids.We use a hay that is grown locally and is comprised mostly of a natural sweet meadow grass, and I mix it with small amounts of either chickory, turnip greens, escarole, occasional red/green leaf and romaine lettuce.He's really picky, so you may have luck with other things that mine won't eat. : I have also found that getting them as much outdoor exercise does wonders for slowing their growth and keeping them happy too! : Good luck! : Freight : : Pyramiding is a direct result of metabolic rate. It has to do with many factors: : : Availlable calcium : : Amount of D3 availlable to use calcium : : Calories in diet : : Exercise : : Temperature : : Fiber intake : : Many of these factors can not be properly maintaned, while the animals is inside. : : Justin

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