Gaping question.

[YavannaV]

Dregan never gapes in his enclosure and usually basks where it is 105-106 though his basking area ranges from 102 on the rock to 110 at the highest part of his branch. He's still a juvenile at 9 mo.

Anyway, my question is why does he keep gaping when we go outside in the heat? We live in Florida and it's in the 90's today here. I wasn't outside with him more than 5 minutes before he started gaping. Would it be ok for him to have stayed out longer? I've been bringing him back inside when he starts to gape because I don't want him to get dehydrated. Could it be the high humidity here?

On a side note, he looked really cute doing it. I should have gotten a pic.

 

[Evergreen]

Gaping is normal but if you want to keep him out longer you should make sure he's got a cooler shade sopt to retreat to. I'm outside typing on my phone right now and its 72 but when sitting under the sun it can get much warmer. Maybe take your probe thermomier outside and see what that temp reads? Maybe it really is hotter on your lap or whereever he lays?

As long as your bathing him and offering him water by dripping it on his nose I don't think hell get dehydrated. And I agree, they're so cute gaping in the sun!

 

[bunnyrut]

gaping is normal and good. it's weird that he doesn't do it in the cage with the temps that high. maybe the thermometer is off? try calibrating it to see it it helps (if it can be)

 

[YavannaV]

I have the zoomed digital with probe. It was fairly inexpensive. It reads the correct temperature of the house vs my thermostat when I've had it out in the room and not in his enclosure. I may try the bowl with ice water and see if it reads 32 there. He usually sits on my chest when we're outside and I cover him with my hand when I move around so he doesn't accidentally fall. I like to take a sun hat and my nook out on the back porch to read or sit with my morning coffee and watch the squirrels try and get into my bird feeder. I bring Dregan out about half the time. He loves being outside. He isn't quite so fond of his leash or the grass yet though. That's a work in progress.