Deformities, Improper Growth or "Pyramiding"? - Chris Tabaka DVM and Darrell Senneke

Return to World Chelonian Trust Main Page for more Turtle and Tortoise Information

Deformities, Improper Growth or "Pyramiding"? - Chris Tabaka DVM and Darrell Senneke

When researching the proper care of their turtle or tortoise people often find themselves confronted with words like "deformed" "imperfect", "pyramided", "damaged", "metabolic bone disease" (MBD) and "scarred". While those who are experienced with Chelonia understand what is meant by these terms this is often not the case for the inexperienced keeper. As a result the reaction of these inexperienced keepers to various growth and shell problems can be inappropriate: overreacting to conditions that do not merit such as well as discounting those conditions in need of intervention.

While it may sound simplistic, the goal of every keeper should be to maintain their charges in such a manner that their appearance and growth characteristics closely parallel that of a member of that species found in the wild. On these pages we intend to show some examples of the more commonly seen manifestations of imperfections in turtles and tortoises and will contrast them with photos of what the animals should look like.

PYRAMIDING

By far the most common problem encountered is called "pyramiding". We do not know everything about turtle and tortoise nutrition and can not point to a single cause of pyramiding. We do know that such improper growth is not in the best interest of the health of the animal. We also know that this condition can be avoided by providing the animal with sunlight or vitamin D3, calcium supplements, a varied diet containing acceptable foods for that species, proper hydration and exercise. Please check our care sheet section for specific dietary information. WCT Care Sheets. This subject is discussed in more detail elsewhere on this site in the article "What Causes Pyramiding" Often people who have just one animal are confused as to what pyramiding means and what it looks like. The term "pyramiding" is a catch-all term used to describe improper growth of the shell of a chelonian, most frequently the animal in question is a tortoise but by no means is this condition restricted to only terrestrial chelonians.

In the table below we have attempted to show various improper shell appearances that one may encounter. The column on the left shows animals with an improper appearance and the one on the right shows the same species with a proper appearance. Between the two columns a description of the problems with that animal is given. Photos with a blue border are linked to full size images - clicking on these will bring up the full size photo. Use your browser's "back" button to return to this page.

Other imperfections that may appear in a turtle or tortoise can be from injuries or disease and are non-dietary in source. Generally speaking once such injuries are healed the animal can lead a long and normal life and, in some cases, attain much of their earlier appearance.

	*Geochelone gigantea -* Aldabran Tortoise Due to a lettuce/tomato diet for ~5 years the animal can't stand on his hind legs. The femurs "melted" and he now can only push himself forward with his back legs, but can't bring them beneath his body to walk normally.
	*Geochelone gigantea -* Aldabran Tortoise (same animal as above)
	*Geochelone gigantea -* Aldabran Tortoise (same animal as above)
	*Geochelone carbonaria -* Red-foot Tortoise WCT Care Sheet When obtained this animal was 10 inches long and could not raise its plastron off the surface. The shell was soft and easily compressed by the pressure of two fingers. The pyramiding of its scutes is classic in look for the term. Now three years later and 12 inches in length with proper diet it has recovered sufficiently to lift its plastron and has even successfully nested.
	Geochelone radiata - Radiated Tortoise WCT Care Sheet This animal was raised on an improper diet at a zoological institution without any UV exposure. Unfortunately, it died VERY prematurely at the age of 6. The longest lived radiated tortoise lived to be at least 189 years* so to say that this animal missed out on a lot would be an understatement. *"Tui Malila" was given to the Queen of Tonga by Captain Cook in 1777 and died in 1958.
	Geochelone pardalis babcocki - Leopard Tortoise WCT Care Sheet This leopard tortoise is 13 inches in length. In addition to the collapsed central vertebral scutes the plastron was overgrown, very thick and heavy. This animal could not raise itself off the ground, nor could it graze normally as its head could not reach the surface because of a massively overgrown gular. It is unknown why the animal developed in this manner. The only dietary hint is that it was fed a diet high in calcium oxalates.
	Geochelone pardalis babcocki - Leopard Tortoise (same animal as above)
	Geochelone sulcata - African Spurred Tortoise WCT Care Sheet Typical pyramided look to a pet African Spurred tortoise raised in the North on a diet of supermarket greensand vegetables. This animal is 5 years old and 14 inches in length.
	*Testudo hermanni boetgerri -* Hermann's Tortoise (Eastern Race) WCT Care Sheet This is the classic look of a Testudo hermanni fed a diet too high in protein supplemented with fruits and store vegetables. Notice the compressed vertebral scutes, sunken rear of the carapace, inability to raise itself off the surface and thickened plastron.
	*Testudo hermanni boetgerri -* Hermann's Tortoise (Eastern Race) (same animal as above)
	Malacochersus tornieri - Pancake tortoise WCT Care Sheet This Pancake tortoise was suffering from very severe metabolic bone disease (MBD) and could barely pull itself along with its front legs. Despite intensive veterinary efforts it died soon after coming into a rehabilitation situation.
	*Gopherus berlandieri* - Texas Tortoise WCT Care Sheet This animal was fed a steady diet of canned dog food for many years resulting in pyramided scute growth and thickened plastron. It has now successfully been weaned to a natural diet.
	*Gopherus berlandieri* - Texas Tortoise (same animal as above)
	*Cistoclemmys* galbinifrons galbinifrons - Flowerback Box Turtle WCT Care Sheet
	*Cistoclemmys* galbinifrons galbinifrons - Flowerback Box Turtle (same animal as above)
	*Cistoclemmys flavomarginata -* The Chinese Box Turtle
	*Cistoclemmys flavomarginata -* The Chinese Box Turtle (same animal as above)
	Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima - Central American Wood Turtle WCT Care Sheet
	Terrapene carolina bauri - Florida Box Turtle WCT Care Sheet
	Terrapene carolina bauri - Florida Box Turtle (same animal as above)