Gaping juvenile Jacksons cham

[Jessika]

Hello,
We just got a 9 month old Jacksons cham yesterday (this is our 1st Jacksons but have had experience with panthers and veiled).
He came with his full screen terrarium in which we have all live plants in (to help with humidity and for a more natural lifestyle for our cham)
His temperature is 83°F. basking and 75 ambient
His humidity is between 50 and 60 percent.
This afternoon we noticed him gaping (sitting still w/ his mouth wide open) in his terrarium. He wasn't acting angry or disturbed at all (never hissed) and has eaten crickets and drank water today as well.
He has plenty of space to roam and we check his gauges regularly.
Please help? We don't know what we are doing wrong?!

 

[Jessika]

At first we were using a Powersun UVB/UVA heat combo and a plant light in a dual-dome fixture.
We just changed the bulbs to a Reptisun 5.0 UVB and a 75 watt heat bulb.
The temperature now is 82°F. basking and 72 ambient.
Humidity 66 percent.
We took him out during the light change and now he's back in his terrarium. We haven't seen him gaping again but we still want to be sure we are doing this properly. Please and thank you for any help we can get!?

 

[Jessika]

He's was just doing it again but he stopped after I took the picture. Idk what's going on?!

 

[JGuinan007]

humidity is a lil low I think you want to get to 70-75%

 

[JGuinan007]

is there anything in his nostrils? white crust? when his mouth is open look in his throat does it look moist and pink or do you see extra mucus in the corner of mouth?

 

[Jessika]

humidity is a lil low I think you want to get to 70-75%

Okay I have misted the hanging plant in there again
Humidity toward the top is around 60% and at the bottom it's at 74% right now.

 

[Jessika]

is there anything in his nostrils? white crust? when his mouth is open look in his throat does it look moist and pink or do you see extra mucus in the corner of mouth?

I will check if/when I catch him doing it again. And I'll comment.

 

[brownie64]

My female does this sometimes. If you aren't hearing any popping noises, or seeing any extra saliva or bubbles coming from his mouth I wouldn't worry about it too much. Sometimes if they get too hot they will do this too. However you said you changed your lights now your temps sound about right, so if that was an issue it should alleviate that.

 

[Jessika]

Okay I have misted the hanging plant in there again
Humidity toward the top is around 60% and at the bottom it's at 74% right now.

The humidity is slowly climbing. Now at 64% up top. 74% bottom still.

 

[Jessika]

My female does this sometimes. If you aren't hearing any popping noises, or seeing any extra saliva or bubbles coming from his mouth I wouldn't worry about it too much. Sometimes if they get too hot they will do this too. However you said you changed your lights now your temps sound about right, so if that was an issue it should alleviate that.

Okay I'll definitely examine him if he does it again to be sure. He looks pretty normal to me though. (I posted a pic of him gaping above) I hope he's okay and comfortable.

 

[JGuinan007]

I would mist him some and keep an I on him and read up on URI just to be sure if you feel he has a URI take him to the vet. You may also want to put plexy on two sides of your cage and leave two side open to help retain humidity montanes like their cage with higher humidity and lower temps than panthers and veiled. OR it may just be this is one of your little guys quirks.

 

[brownie64]

Okay I'll definitely examine him if he does it again to be sure. He looks pretty normal to me though. (I posted a pic of him gaping above) I hope he's okay and comfortable.

He looks fine from what I see. He could just be displaying aggression too.

 

[Jessika]

I would mist him some and keep an I on him and read up on URI just to be sure if you feel he has a URI take him to the vet. You may also want to put plexy on two sides of your cage and leave two side open to help retain humidity montanes like their cage with higher humidity and lower temps than panthers and veiled. OR it may just be this is one of your little guys quirks.

His previous owner said he only did it in his care a few times so I'm wondering if it is just a quirk but we are keeping a close watch on him and looking for signs of sickness. Other than the gaping though, he seems healthy. He's got a firm grip, vibrant colors and he's active in his terrarium. His eyes don't have crust or goo in or around them at all either. And like I said, he's even acting friendly. No hissing, no puffing, no noises at all.

 

[Jessika]

I would mist him some and keep an I on him and read up on URI just to be sure if you feel he has a URI take him to the vet. You may also want to put plexy on two sides of your cage and leave two side open to help retain humidity montanes like their cage with higher humidity and lower temps than panthers and veiled. OR it may just be this is one of your little guys quirks.

I don't have plexy readily available but i have a cling wrap, would that suffice maybe?
Update: hes sleeping soundly now, however he did it three more times this evening since last post but he ALWAYS closes his mouth when we start to open the door or when we get close up to look at him from the side. I have looked inside his mouth and see nothing out of the ordinarily.
Temperature now is: 70° up top, 70° ambient
Humidity now is: 70% up top, 60% bottom

 

[Leo Chance]

All of our Jacksons will open their mouth at times. At first it kind of scared me, but none of them have ever acted sick. We have had them for over a year now and they are all eating, showering and quite active. Even the babies sit with an open mouth at times.