Relocation stress or RI?

[stormfly]

Hi!

I’ve previously had a bearded dragon, but I just got a baby beardie on June 29. My other had come to me almost a year old, so I’m a little paranoid when it comes to the baby.

I’ve noticed that she (uncertain, haven’t officially checked) does a weird thing with breathing on occasion. Not all the time, but it sounds like there’s a little clicking noise on the exhale. She’ll open the side of her mouth, too. I tried to get a good photo.

She’s not super dark where her stress marks are, and her beard hasn’t gotten super dark, either. I haven’t seen any mucus or saliva coming from mouth or nose. She’s alert, basking, and pooping. She ate 20 crickets yesterday, but didn't seem interested today outside of a couple. She also doesn’t want her greens but that’s not surprising.

On one hand, it could be relocation stress. I have handled her the past couple days to familiarize her with me (and to get extra crickets out) but I acknowledge I probably should have waited a little longer. She’s also shedding.

On the other, I am freaked out that it’s an RI. Yes, she’s from the pet store. My other beardie went very suddenly while I was away at college, so now I’m extra cautious. She is scheduled for a wellness check early next week, but I wanted extra opinions to see if I should take her earlier.

Please help. She is so small and I am so nervous.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hi!

I’ve previously had a bearded dragon, but I just got a baby beardie on June 29. My other had come to me almost a year old, so I’m a little paranoid when it comes to the baby.

I’ve noticed that she (uncertain, haven’t officially checked) does a weird thing with breathing on occasion. Not all the time, but it sounds like there’s a little clicking noise on the exhale. She’ll open the side of her mouth, too. I tried to get a good photo.

She’s not super dark where her stress marks are, and her beard hasn’t gotten super dark, either. I haven’t seen any mucus or saliva coming from mouth or nose. She’s alert, basking, and pooping. She ate 20 crickets yesterday, but didn't seem interested today outside of a couple. She also doesn’t want her greens but that’s not surprising.

On one hand, it could be relocation stress. I have handled her the past couple days to familiarize her with me (and to get extra crickets out) but I acknowledge I probably should have waited a little longer. She’s also shedding.

On the other, I am freaked out that it’s an RI. Yes, she’s from the pet store. My other beardie went very suddenly while I was away at college, so now I’m extra cautious. She is scheduled for a wellness check early next week, but I wanted extra opinions to see if I should take her earlier.

Please help. She is so small and I am so nervous.

Please go over the surface basking temps please NO stick ons -- digital probe thermometer-- UVB NO coils ---- this is extremely important -- lets work on the lighting first --- diet will can help w/ that-- shes going thru relocation stress eating will be off -- but we need to figure out if she does indeed have a RI - its good there is no mucous or saliva but the clicking is not good -- lets hold off on the vet check for for now unless she does have the RI of course- we can get Tracie our vet tech mod on the forum to chime in here -- if shes not feeling good I would recommend keeping her night time temps around 80 ambient to help w/ her immune system

 

[stormfly]

Please go over the surface basking temps please NO stick ons -- digital probe thermometer-- UVB NO coils ---- this is extremely important -- lets work on the lighting first --- diet will can help w/ that-- shes going thru relocation stress eating will be off -- but we need to figure out if she does indeed have a RI - its good there is no mucous or saliva but the clicking is not good -- lets hold off on the vet check for for now unless she does have the RI of course- we can get Tracie our vet tech mod on the forum to chime in here -- if shes not feeling good I would recommend keeping her night time temps around 80 ambient to help w/ her immune system

Thank you for the advice. I raised the basking temperature. Apparently the numbers I had been looking at were for adults instead of babies. Currently working on updating the lighting for her.

 

[kaiylaj]

Please go over the surface basking temps please NO stick ons -- digital probe thermometer-- UVB NO coils ---- this is extremely important -- lets work on the lighting first --- diet will can help w/ that-- shes going thru relocation stress eating will be off -- but we need to figure out if she does indeed have a RI - its good there is no mucous or saliva but the clicking is not good -- lets hold off on the vet check for for now unless she does have the RI of course- we can get Tracie our vet tech mod on the forum to chime in here -- if shes not feeling good I would recommend keeping her night time temps around 80 ambient to help w/ her immune system

Hello my juvenile has been doing that exact same thing . Vet has already checked him out. Hes in 40gallon, reptisun 10.0 uvb , 100W & 25W bulb , warm side goes from 95-115 Cool side gets down to about 78 . Hes alert , awake during day sleep at night. he actually eats a little greens maybe once a day. Gets protein twice a day for 7mins each . No other signs or issues , Besides that same breathing concern. If any other info please let me know Thanks

 

[KarrieRee]

Thank you for the advice. I raised the basking temperature. Apparently the numbers I had been looking at were for adults instead of babies. Currently working on updating the lighting for her.

Update on this dragon please

 

[stormfly]

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back! Stormfly has been doing very well, I'm happy to say! I took her to the vet in early July and no RI BUT my sweet little girl's fecal sample was positive for coccidia. Cleaned everything, switched out her tank decor with disposable boxes and paper towels. She took her anti-parasite meds (0.01mL dosage!!!) like a champ and made a full recovery. We've moved houses since then, and she displayed similar behaviors with her breathing so I think that's how she displays relocation stress.

I took her in for a check-up for her 6 months just to be certain that she was doing well, and the vet gave her a clean bill of health! She has a voracious appetite and eats all her greens and insects with zest - we call her our little squash monster, since acorn squash appears to be her favorite. She's grown a LOT since July and graduated to a bigger setup with separate UVB and heat lamps in early October! Her temp range is 80-100 from cool to basking zones.

She's super curious about everything right now - here she is completely mesmerized by my touch-activated lamp and when she decided to give my skirt a taste.

 

[xp29]

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back! Stormfly has been doing very well, I'm happy to say! I took her to the vet in early July and no RI BUT my sweet little girl's fecal sample was positive for coccidia. Cleaned everything, switched out her tank decor with disposable boxes and paper towels. She took her anti-parasite meds (0.01mL dosage!!!) like a champ and made a full recovery. We've moved houses since then, and she displayed similar behaviors with her breathing so I think that's how she displays relocation stress.

I took her in for a check-up for her 6 months just to be certain that she was doing well, and the vet gave her a clean bill of health! She has a voracious appetite and eats all her greens and insects with zest - we call her our little squash monster, since acorn squash appears to be her favorite. She's grown a LOT since July and graduated to a bigger setup with separate UVB and heat lamps in early October! Her temp range is 80-100 from cool to basking zones.

She's super curious about everything right now - here she is completely mesmerized by my touch-activated lamp and when she decided to give my skirt a taste.

She is a cutie pie!!!!!

 

[stormfly]

She is a cutie pie!!!!!

Thank you!! Your little guys are as well!

 

[xp29]

Thank you!! Your little guys are as well!

Thank you