Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 2:46 pm
Pyramiding can be stopped, but you have to do a full 180 on his diet. My Bozo was in the same predicament when he got to about 1-1/2 years old. I didnt know better, and I made the mistake of overfeeding him. Now he's 7, and although his shell does not appear as bumpy as it was, he still has, and always will, so I'm told, those ridges....which means his shell, though not bad, is deformed. But the only problem he seems to have now is his scutes shed irregularly, one here, a small one there.
As far as his diet....you've got to get tough. Your turt has been spoiled, and they are masters at begging and tugging at your heartstrings until they get what they want.
It's going to take some time, but get a veggie clip, and start with romaine (not iceberg) lettice. A fresh leaf everyday, whether he eats it or not. Stick with a high grade commercial pellet (low in fat and protien) Reptomin, Zoo-Med, or Nutrafin is what I use. Zoo-Med is the lowest in protien, with Reptomin lowest in fat. Offer him that every other day, about what would fit inside his head. If he refuses to eat, remove them and skip a day, and try again. Stick to a set schedule (my guys get lettice in the AM, and if its "pellet day" pellets in the afternoon, followed by a few pieces of cuttlebone) this way he will learn what to expect.
No more human food! Pork, beef, chicken etc. are not good for him. "Deli-type" fish is not much better. Shrimp is also VERY high in protien. I'd also lay off the feeders, or offer a couple of them once a month at most.
. I recently boought all his supplies, and I have a 8% UVB and 33% UVA bulb for my turtle, as well as a heat lamp (that does a good job of keeping the water 72 degrees at all times.
