Is it gaping or gasping

[danizen]

My beardie, Eep, opens her mouth pretty wide, then closes it again. I know gaping is OK, and normal, but I am worried because the behavior where she opens her mouth and closes it often occurs just on the couch, where it isn't really warm enough for her to gape to regulate heat. Of course, she might just like to stretch her mouth and it might be specific to her.

We've brought her in to see a exotics vet, and the vet doesn't detect anything wrong. She remains pretty alert and active (for a beardie) but I am still worried.

 

[Longfellow777]

is your beardie growing and shedding? Could be loosing skin around neck. does the dragon only do it on tour couch or?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That sounds like normal gaping behavior but not gasping. If she gasped there would likely be some hissing type of sound
or forced exhalation, etc.
How often does she do that when she is on the couch? Something could be stressing her possibly.

Tracie

 

[ZappierFour50]

My beardie, Eep, opens her mouth pretty wide, then closes it again. I know gaping is OK, and normal, but I am worried because the behavior where she opens her mouth and closes it often occurs just on the couch, where it isn't really warm enough for her to gape to regulate heat. Of course, she might just like to stretch her mouth and it might be specific to her.

We've brought her in to see a exotics vet, and the vet doesn't detect anything wrong. She remains pretty alert and active (for a beardie) but I am still worried.

I know you’ve already gotten a reply, but it does just sound like normal behavior, no need to be worried

 

[danizen]

I conclude that it is gasping, and she is still doing it. It is pretty bad right now - she makes an audible gagging sound and puffs up. I put her back in her enclosure in case she was angry or afraid, and she is still doing it but is a little less loud. So, I am assuming it is some upper respiratory infection and she cannot get enough air through her nose, so she opens her mouth to breath out and in. We will definitely be taking her to an exotic vet. I am training my wife who will take her to describe this as gasping rather than gaping.