URI in baby beardie?

[babybeardie79]

Hello! Yesterday I got a beardie that I've estimated to be around 5 months old. Every once in awhile, she'll make these clicking noises, which I know are usually possible signs of an URI, though she's not showing any other symptoms and seems to be doing perfectly fine otherwise. No saliva, no drainage, she's still VERY active and eats a ton. She doesn't really breathe through her mouth a lot, though I do notice her opening her mouth for a split second at times, possibly to breathe but at first I believed it to be stress and not wanting me to handle her? There are currently not any reptile vets near me that could get her in until later this week, if even. Her usb is a tube reptisun 10.0 t5 HO and I've made sure her temps are all spot on. She's not my first beardie, but I did think this was odd and wanted more opinions. Thank you!

edit* I did think I should mention, her humidity is always around 40%

 

[KarrieRee]

Hello! Yesterday I got a beardie that I've estimated to be around 5 months old. Every once in awhile, she'll make these clicking noises, which I know are usually possible signs of an URI, though she's not showing any other symptoms and seems to be doing perfectly fine otherwise. No saliva, no drainage, she's still VERY active and eats a ton. She doesn't really breathe through her mouth a lot, though I do notice her opening her mouth for a split second at times, possibly to breathe but at first I believed it to be stress and not wanting me to handle her? There are currently not any reptile vets near me that could get her in until later this week, if even. Her usb is a tube reptisun 10.0 t5 HO and I've made sure her temps are all spot on. She's not my first beardie, but I did think this was odd and wanted more opinions. Thank you!

edit* I did think I should mention, her humidity is always around 40%

Humidity is good -- please make sure your getting surface basking temps w/ a digital probe thermometer - the screen on your tank is a wide hole type or a fine mesh type? Distance and placement will be determined by this --- if you can please post a video of the clicking your hearing -- record on you tube then post the link

 

[babybeardie79]

Humidity is good -- please make sure your getting surface basking temps w/ a digital probe thermometer - the screen on your tank is a wide hole type or a fine mesh type? Distance and placement will be determined by this --- if you can please post a video of the clicking your hearing -- record on you tube then post the link

Basking temps are taken with an IR temp gun and ambient temps are taken with digital probes. Wide hole type on top of screen. And here's the link! https://youtube.com/shorts/ZrQkOLwHumY
I appreciate all of the help, thank you so much. Nothing has changed since I posted, she's still veryyy active and hungry and no other symptoms have appeared, though I have known of cases where only the popping was heard. She is in the process of shedding, which I figured could be another explanation, though there is no shed on or near her beard.

 

[KarrieRee]

Basking temps are taken with an IR temp gun and ambient temps are taken with digital probes. Wide hole type on top of screen. And here's the link! https://youtube.com/shorts/ZrQkOLwHumY
I appreciate all of the help, thank you so much. Nothing has changed since I posted, she's still veryyy active and hungry and no other symptoms have appeared, though I have known of cases where only the popping was heard. She is in the process of shedding, which I figured could be another explanation, though there is no shed on or near her beard.

Please get surface basking temp w/ the probe you have to make sure the IR gun is giving you accurate temps- I am going to have AHBD take a look and I couldnt hear any sound - does she still got the clicking noise going? As far as the UVB make sure you have a piece of decor directly under it 8-10 inches --
@AHBD

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, since you just got Drax yesterday it might be just from eating fast or the stress/excitement of being in a new place. Make sure the temps. are good like Karrie said, at night try to have the tank around 75 if possible. It's good that she's eating well, always a plus with a growing dragon ! When you get time, post pics of the enclosure + the lights.

 

[babybeardie79]

Hi there, since you just got Drax yesterday it might be just from eating fast or the stress/excitement of being in a new place. Make sure the temps. are good like Karrie said, at night try to have the tank around 75 if possible. It's good that she's eating well, always a plus with a growing dragon ! When you get time, post pics of the enclosure + the lights.

Please get surface basking temp w/ the probe you have to make sure the IR gun is giving you accurate temps- I am going to have AHBD take a look and I couldnt hear any sound - does she still got the clicking noise going? As far as the UVB make sure you have a piece of decor directly under it 8-10 inches --
@AHBD

Got it! Thank you! Thankfully the temp probe gave the same basking temp as the IR gun, so temps are all good. Yes, she is still making the clicking noise, and she seems to be breathing heavier, which is concerning. Otherwise she is fine, still definitely has an appetite and tons of energy, so I'll keep an eye on her unless things change. The temp at night should be around 72-75, but if not, I'll go purchase a CHE to maintain that temp for her. There is decor about 8 in from the UVB.

 

[KarrieRee]

Got it! Thank you! Thankfully the temp probe gave the same basking temp as the IR gun, so temps are all good. Yes, she is still making the clicking noise, and she seems to be breathing heavier, which is concerning. Otherwise she is fine, still definitely has an appetite and tons of energy, so I'll keep an eye on her unless things change. The temp at night should be around 72-75, but if not, I'll go purchase a CHE to maintain that temp for her. There is decor about 8 in from the UVB.

Good on uvb distance- how are you keeping temps warm at night now?

 

[babybeardie79]

Good on uvb distance- how are you keeping temps warm at night now?

The thermostat in the house keeps things around that temp, I usually don't have to worry about it as it's usually around 72-75.

 

[babybeardie79]

Here are those images. Also wanted to update on her condition. She seems to be open-mouth, deep-breathing a bit more than she was before, I don't always hear the clicking noise and there's still no drainage or thick saliva. Just obvious that she is struggling a little. She's still eating and has energy and seems to be fine otherwise. I've held off on handling her to diminish her stressors, because I did notice her breathing a bit heavier when I picked her up to clean her tank, and I placed a hand warmer under her bed last night to raise the temp to around 80 to give her a little boost just in case, which I'll continue to do. Should I continue to just keep an eye on her? I am a bit concerned, but it has only been a couple of days since she's come home. Thank you all for your help!

 

[AHBD]

Very nice enclosure ! With a baby you have to be extra careful that the temps. all through the tank are good. The ambient temps. outside of the basking spot should be a gradient from the low 90's to about 80 on the cool side. So be sure to check them. Keep an eye on her and if there's no improvement or she gets worse you might need a good reptile vet to prescribe antibiotics. Hopefully this is just a passing thing and she'll recupe on her own. She looks to be in the 3-4 month old range.

 

[babybeardie79]

Very nice enclosure ! With a baby you have to be extra careful that the temps. all through the tank are good. The ambient temps. outside of the basking spot should be a gradient from the low 90's to about 80 on the cool side. So be sure to check them. Keep an eye on her and if there's no improvement or she gets worse you might need a good reptile vet to prescribe antibiotics. Hopefully this is just a passing thing and she'll recupe on her own. She looks to be in the 3-4 month old range.

Thank you! Okay, thank you thats what I originally thought too, the people at the store told me she was 5 months, though I've been caring and feeding her as if she were around 3-4. If she does get worse I have a vet I can take her to, and I'll be in contact with them. Temps are all monitored constantly, ambient temps warm and cool sides as well as basking.

 

[AHBD]

O.K, we'll be pulling for Drax !

 

[babybeardie79]

Good evening, I wanted to update as I am very concerned now. She was fine all day, I could tell her breathing was very deep and I was starting to see her saliva thicken, though still no drainage. She was struggling a bit more to breathe, but seemed alright otherwise, eating all of her veggies and climbing all around her tank when she wasn't basking and has as much energy as ever. Then at night when she started to sleep, she started wheezing, making small squeaking sounds which was really concerning as I thought she was unable to breathe almost entirely. I looked and there was no emergency exotic vet, so I sat with her for awhile to make sure she was okay, and the wheezing stopped thank goodness and she's just making her popping noise every so often and sometimes breathing with her mouth open even in her sleep. Is there anything I can do until the morning, when I'll call the vets as soon as they open? I believe it has progressed past a point where I can blame entirely stress, and I want to get things checked out before they worsen even more. I hope to be able to get her in sometime this week if I'm not able to tomorrow.

 

[AHBD]

Yes you need to find a reptile vet , Karrie can post a link to help you find one if you need help.

 

[babybeardie79]

Yes you need to find a reptile vet , Karrie can post a link to help you find one if you need help.

I have one! I work with one thankfully, so I was able to get her appointment in first thing tomorrow. Thank you.