My bearded dragon Mushu had a respiratory infection in August of this year. After the vet put him on an oral medication, he hasn't had any problems until recently. Since the humidity here is around 35-40%, I am surprised that Mushu is sometimes gaping outside of his enclosure. Could it be the heat? What are your thoughts?
Btw: Mushu is very healthy. He poops regularly, eats almost every day, and is pretty active. Obviously, he is a little sluggish with it being the brumation season, but that's the only change in behavior I have seen.
I've seen them gape when they aren't basking sometimes. I wouldn't consider that a problem in itself. If you see other symptoms like increased mucous buildup around the nose/mouth, weight loss, or lethargic behavior, then that may indicate an underlying issue. Since he's active and eating then my guess is that he's OK.