Bearded dragon making weird sound at bath time?

[blacklotus]

Hello, I have had my new bearded dragon for a little less than a week now. He is an adult and is close to around 16 inches long. He is in a 75 gallon tank with reptile carpet. The lights I have on the tank is 1 48" reptisun 10.0, 2 24" reptisun 10.0, and a 100 watt powersun. My temperature on the cool side is 85F, the basking spot is between 93F-99F depending on where exactly he is on the basking side(on branch, closer to light etc.) Anyways, he seems like a totally 100% healthy bearded dragon, he is fat and looks in great health with no signs of anything wrong with him. Eats well, eats 4 or 5 big hornworms a day.. Well, what bothers me is the couple of times that I have tried to bathe him in the bathtub he starts breathing very hard and making kind of like a hiccup sound with his beard going in and out, in and out, almost like a stemper sound with cat or dog. ( sorry, that's the best way I can explain the sound.) That's only when he is in water, when I am holding him or when he is in his cage he makes 0 sounds, no strange behaviors or anything like that. My question is can you please help me? Is anything wrong with him? Does it just really scare him or what when in water? If he was sick he would be making the sounds in the tank, me holding him etc, not just in the water right? Please give me all advice, I am worrying a lot . He is in tank now and acts back to 100% normal. Also please give me your opinion on my setup as well. Thanks in advance! All detailed opinions would be DEEPLY appreciated. Thank you!!!!! **I use temperature gun for temp readings.**

ps. He always has good bowl movements in the warm water (water in bath is around 90.0-93.0 according to the temperature gun I use.)

 

[Esther19]

If he had a respiratory infection he would be making the sounds outside the bath, as well. The bath water should be only up to his shoulders. You may want to put a washcloth or ahnd towel under him for traction so he will feel more comfortable.