Gulping + Occasional wheezing?

[catwu20]

Hey y'all, I've noticed that my beardie has started "gulping" recently (like a swallowing motion). It doesn't happen when she's alone, only when she's in sort of stressful situations. For example, when we pick her up or move her around. What does this mean? Does this mean she's just nervous? I've never seen this behavior before.

Additionally, when she was scratching her head with her back legs today, she made a loud wheezing noise.

I'm afraid both of these point to a URI. She's had one before, but recovered. She's also shedding on her face and back. Is there anything I can do to make her more comfortable during this time? Her immune system might be weakened.

Thank you

 

[KarrieRee]

Hey y'all, I've noticed that my beardie has started "gulping" recently (like a swallowing motion). It doesn't happen when she's alone, only when she's in sort of stressful situations. For example, when we pick her up or move her around. What does this mean? Does this mean she's just nervous? I've never seen this behavior before.

Additionally, when she was scratching her head with her back legs today, she made a loud wheezing noise.

I'm afraid both of these point to a URI. She's had one before, but recovered. She's also shedding on her face and back. Is there anything I can do to make her more comfortable during this time? Her immune system might be weakened.

Thank you

Please post a video of the dragon gulping -- the wheezing is only when she scratches her head - scratching the head w/ shed is normal -- the wheezing would be constant for a RI - what kind of UVB are you using? coil or a long tube fixture -- what is the humidity in the tank ? Basking temps ? how are you getting them?

 

[catwu20]

Please post a video of the dragon gulping -- the wheezing is only when she scratches her head - scratching the head w/ shed is normal -- the wheezing would be constant for a RI - what kind of UVB are you using? coil or a long tube fixture -- what is the humidity in the tank ? Basking temps ? how are you getting them?

Hi Karrie, I'll try to capture a video tommorow when I handle her again. I'm using the arcadia 12% T5 UVB. Humitidy is at 50%, but the vet said it is ok and a lot of humidifiers don't work above 50%. Basking spot is at 36C, cold is at 20C.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hi Karrie, I'll try to capture a video tommorow when I handle her again. I'm using the arcadia 12% T5 UVB. Humitidy is at 50%, but the vet said it is ok and a lot of humidifiers don't work above 50%. Basking spot is at 36C, cold is at 20C.

Sounds good w/ the pic --- the temps not so good - cool side of the tank should be 80's F daytime the 20 C is more for night time - your UVB does it have a reflector is it in a hood/ fixture or just the bulb ?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Could your girl have some clogged nostrils from shedding perhaps? A video of her behavior would
definitely help out. They can have a hard time breathing when their face is shedding if the shed clogs
up their nostrils.
As Karrie suggested, try to raise the basking just a little bit, in case she could be developing a
respiratory infection.

Let us know how she is doing.
Tracie

 

[catwu20]

Here is the video, it’s something like this. I think she completely shedded her face (she’s shedding her belly now) and there’s no stuck shed in her nose. I’m using the reptisun T5 HO terrarium hood, which I believe comes in with a built in reflector. I place it 12 inches above basking over mesh.

 

[KarrieRee]

Here is the video, it’s something like this. I think she completely shedded her face (she’s shedding her belly now) and there’s no stuck shed in her nose. I’m using the reptisun T5 HO terrarium hood, which I believe comes in with a built in reflector. I place it 12 inches above basking over mesh.

Did you keep the 5.0 or replace the bulb w/ the 10.0? If you have the 10.0 distance would be 8-10 directly above the basking decor

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is your girl doing today? Has her breathing gotten any better now since she shed her face?
Sometimes they can get retained shed in the nose that causes breathing issues. What type of thermometer
are you using to measure the temperatures?
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

 

[catwu20]

Did you keep the 5.0 or replace the bulb w/ the 10.0? If you have the 10.0 distance would be 8-10 directly above the basking decor

Hi Karrie, I have the 5.0. Would my current distance be ok?

 

[catwu20]

Hello,

How is your girl doing today? Has her breathing gotten any better now since she shed her face?
Sometimes they can get retained shed in the nose that causes breathing issues. What type of thermometer
are you using to measure the temperatures?
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

She's breathing about the same, still gulping. She was climbing something yesterday and I heard a wheezing noise. I'm quite worried - I set up a checkup with the vet on their earliest possible date which is the 16th. I'll raise the temperatures in the meantime.
I am using a digital probe thermometer.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hi Karrie, I have the 5.0. Would my current distance be ok?

Ok I would recommend the 5.0 be changed out to the 10.0 bulb if your fixture is 24" the 5.0 needs to be inside the tank or no obstruction or no screen distance 6-8 inches directly over the basking decor -- you can keep the fixture on top w/ the 10.0 bulb distance 8-10 inches- the screen is blocking 30% of the rays and the 5.0 is not strong enough to go thru it

 

[catwu20]

Ok I would recommend the 5.0 be changed out to the 10.0 bulb if your fixture is 24" the 5.0 needs to be inside the tank or no obstruction or no screen distance 6-8 inches directly over the basking decor -- you can keep the fixture on top w/ the 10.0 bulb distance 8-10 inches- the screen is blocking 30% of the rays and the 5.0 is not strong enough to go thru it

Oh sorry, I misunderstood haha. I have the arcadia 12% T5 at 12 inches away. Still trying to get the hang of the lighting vocabulary. Is that similar to 10.0, and acceptable?

 

[hdochow]

that is a great bulb. i use it myself but have it mounted inside because i have a solid top. distance from bulb to basking inside is 12-15". if you have it on top of a screen, i believe the distance from bulb to basking is 8-10" because the screen blocks some of the uvb.

 

[catwu20]

that is a great bulb. i use it myself but have it mounted inside because i have a solid top. distance from bulb to basking inside is 12-15". if you have it on top of a screen, i believe the distance from bulb to basking is 8-10" because the screen blocks some of the uvb.

Thank you for the suggestion, I'll raise the decor to 8-10" inches away.