Dr. Stash Knows Best

As you can see, Koopa and Troopa's shells sort of have a bumpy appearance known as 'pyramiding'. Pyramiding can be a serious condition in which the scutes of a tortoise shell forms as ndividual pyramids over years due to, but not limited to- lack of exercise, calcium and humidity, improper lighting or lack of natural sunlight, and an improper diet. A good hallmark of a tortoise owner is that all tortoises, regarldless of species, must have smooth, domed looking shells.

These two have been kept indoors all their lives in a 50 gallon tank with the same food and artificial lighting year after year. This picture, taken April 2014, is the first time that they have felt real grass and sun. Pyramiding is irreversable, sadly. However, we caught it at an early stage, so overtime they will sort of smoothen out gradually. All they need is real sunlight, exercise, himidity and a varied diet that ncludes leafy greens (mostly), some fruits and veggies (apples, cactus fruit, mango, squash, zuchini, strawberry) and occasionally protien (earthworms slugs and snails for protein since this is a tropical species).

I nly bring emninside when.weather gets bad. They are is very good hands now.