Interesting article about piramidying from herpdigest

[albinoman]

Influence Of Environmental Humidity And Dietary Protein On Pyramidal Growth
Of Carapaces In African Spurred Tortoises (Geochelone Sulcata).
Wiesner CS, Iben C.

Institute of Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2003 Feb;87(1-2):66-74.
The carapaces of captive-raised tortoises (terrestrial chelonians of the
zoological family Testudinidae, often develop pyramidal-shaped osseous growth
centrally within the horny plates. With very few exceptions (e.g. Geochelone
elegans, Psammobates sp.), this conical growth pattern is considered to be
pathologic. This very common defect is believed to be an important indicator of
the quality of captive tortoise management. This study was designed to examine
the effect of dietary protein level and environmental humidity on the degree of
pyramidal growth in the carapaces. Fifty recently hatched African spurred
tortoises (G. sulcata) were raised for 5 months under artificial conditions of
varying environmental humidity and dietary protein content (14% vs. 19% vs. 30%
crude protein in dry matter). Humps of the carapaces that developed and blood
values of calcium, phosphorus and haematocrit were measured and compared among
groups. Dry environmental conditions (24.3-57.8% and 30.6!
-74.8% relative humidity) produced taller humps than humid conditions (45-99%
relative humidity). Hump formation differed significantly (p < or = 0.001)
between these three groups kept under different humidity conditions. Variable
dietary protein had a minor, positive impact on this pathological formation of
humps (pyramidal growth syndrome, PGS). Analysis of blood (calcium, phosphorus
and haematocrit) offered no further explanation as to the development of the
humps.

Ricardo

[red bootz]

I was damned for posting said study about a month ago. Apparently, Chris Highfeild of the tortoise trust has deemed this research to be misinformation.

Check it out:http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28797

[ReptileHQ]

I'm Chris....it is Andy Highfield of www.tortoisetrust.org you speak of.

He is considered by many in his field to be one of the worlds leading authorities in tortoise nutrition and captive maintenence. Once again, I e-mailed him about this "study" and this is what he said:

Hi Chris,

I have seen this. I believe the whole concept is totally flawed and frankly, makes no biological sense. The "study" was far too short in duration, the numbers of animals used inadequate (despite the 'statistics') and the regimes employed artificial and misleading.

Unfortunately, many are likely to take it seriously.... animals will die.

Andy C. Highfield

http://www.tortoisetrust.org - Tortoise Trust Main Website

http://www.ttinstitute.co.uk - Tortoise Trust Courses & Education

http://www.carapacepress.com - Carapace Press Books/Videos

[red bootz]

Oops, my bad. I had all the turtle experts mixed up. My apologies.

[gfisher2002]

lol

[eyespy]

I do think that in the very specific case of young sulcatas there might be some merit to the study. Most people I've met have incredibly dehydrated torts because they are under the mistaken impression that desert torts don't need access to water and they are in very rough shape as a result. I have yet to meet a sulcata that had normal hydration status upon getting bloodwork done.

But I don't think dehydration is the sole cause of the problem, just one contributing factor. I've met plenty of Mediterranean torts with excellent hydration status but severe pyramiding.