Don't know about these "forced" (what Marcos calls "power-raised") tortoises that are apparently smooth.
I'm still trying to understand the "evidence" of those (such as the Fifes) who claim increased humidity for hatchlings and little ones prevents pyramiding. (cf Jordi's question about the "relation between low relative humidity and pyramiding") Their results seem incontrovertible. But how can external humidity affect internal bone structure? Pyramiding has to be caused by dietary factors,as Andy has just very clearly argued in this thread. Yet Fife and so many others keep arguing that it's to do with humidity.
Tonight I've just been reading Andy's article about microclimates, referred to in another thread.
He comments that in the tortoises allowed access to suitable microclimates:
"Growth is relatively slow, and carapace development is very smooth and free of ‘lumps’ or ‘pyramiding’."
This seems to support the "humid-hide argument". More than seems. Does?
But if it does (and Andy will clarify this for us, I'm sure) could it be not for the reasons the humid-hide people argue? (Well, they don't argue, they just assert that it's not diet, but humidity, as if there's a direct connection). But perhaps there is a connection, but less direct, more subtle,as Andy appears to have already set out here (TT Article: Microclimates in Captivity)
"Tortoises maintained on flat surfaces where burrowing is not possible, on the other hand, lose fluids via evaporation very quickly, their core body temperatures vary much more widely and more rapidly, and they tend to be more active. This last property is not necessarily advantageous to long-term health, as the main increase in activity is seen in feeding. Animals reared in these conditions therefore tend to grow faster and hence are far more susceptible to developing mineral and trace element deficiencies, especially those implicated in MBD, or metabolic bone disease."
Is this why the humid-hide breeders raise non-pyramided tortoises? They've provided a particularly useful micro-climate! (?)
Stuart
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