Mouth gaping

[thepope77x]

hi i was wondering what it might mean. i have seen him siting with his mouth open some as of late. hes eating and every thing seems fine hes in an open air cage and gauges are good. cages stays in the high 70s or right at 80 i really need to take pics of my new buddy going to lern how to do all that again tonight i hope.
thanks

 

[carol5208]

usually means they are too hot, a possible respiratory infection, or they are pissed off at something! What is the basking spot at? Does he gape when he basks or all the time?

 

[thepope77x]

no i don't see him do it alot and i looked for uri signs dont see any extra saliva or any thing from the nose how ever some times when he sleeps he sleeps with his head up and some times laying down but he only sleeps at night i just put the fan on him on low see if that helps

 

[carol5208]

That can be a sign of an RI when they hold their nose up in the air. I would take your cham to a vet to be on the safe side. Why are you putting a fan on him?

 

[thepope77x]

also he stopped when i walked over to check on him. i looked in his mouth with a light did not see any sights of uri and he has did not go back to doing it yet today i do not see it every day seems rare. but at night he will sleep with his head up like he is siting not sure why this is but he seems fine and sleeping well.

 

[thepope77x]

wow on the typos lol sorry and the fans to cool it down a little also he has been to the vet since i have seen these things. they didn't say any thing other than try to mix up the feeders

 

[carol5208]

well I know that I have read on here that a chameleon with a RI will put their nose up in the air when they are sleeping. Just keep a close eye out. You don't want it to escalate to where it gets real bad if that is what it is. If your temps are not too hot and he keeps holding his mouth open, then I would say something is not right. If it continues I would have him checked out by a vet. Just my opinion.....

 

[thepope77x]

thanks for helping hes doing it again now.....what would cause this to happen? is it some thing i did the pet store pet me down the wrong path but i got every thing now trying to fix it hmmm i guess the vet needs to be called i feel like i get more on here than last time i spent my money they couldn't even tell me the age or sex. do they clear up? he was in a fish tank....hes got open air now 18x18x36 a drip ill have to get pics later when my gf come over

 

[del33]

I hope when you say "put the fan on him" you don't mean literally. Try to avoid direct drafts towards him. If you just want to cool down the ambient temps, aim the fan away from him. It should still circulate the air in the room achieving your goal and keeps him away from the draft.

Also, make sure RH isn't too low..

 

[thepope77x]

no the fan is not right on him.he stopped gaping so i guess ill see if he keeps it up if so ill try the vet again....

 

[thepope77x]

so how do they get an RI? what are the reasons behind it? i tryed to look it up on here by searching RI and nothing came up

 

[carol5208]

here is some info that I found that may help explain http://chamworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/upper-respiratory-infection-warning.html

 

[BocaJan]

Don't use a fan. My advice is to mist him when you see him with his mouth open. I would say he is thirsty. Try misting more often or for a longer time. Every time you see him with his mouth open during the day give him some water. I bet the behavior stops.

 

[lilbug]

My chameleon does that when she's hot, I turn the heat lamp off for a while and spray her cage. She usually closes her mouth shortly after I do that.