General Care Discussion :: pyramiding

[wbedoya]

Hey guys I've noticed that there's some sort of pyramiding on my turtles shell from his head down to his tail....its a line that divides both sides of the shell and its not exactly pointy but it is coming upward a bit....mind you I found my turtle almost 3 weeks ago and he's exactly 1 1/3 of an inch which is very small....my guess is he's a few months old at the most....well anyways, Ever since I got him I've been feeding him a mixed variety of food from pellets, carrots, cilantro, cooked chicken, fish, tomato, and I recently bought this food mix which brings dried worms and other mixes of insects and I guess fish also......I have a cuttlebone on the water for extra calcium...is a little pyramiding normal?

[jozzep]

Please post pics...

[marisa]

From your description, it doesn't sound like pyramiding, but rather a slightly raised spine, which is not uncommon in hatchlings (which yours is). It gives a somewhat tented appearance, and will become less prominent when your turtle grows and fills out.

Pyramiding is when individual scutes are raised, giving the shell a lumpy appearance.

If from my description you're still unsure, a pic of the shell dry would be good.

[wbedoya]

ok thanx guys....I'll post pictures as soon as i get hold of a camera!