opening mouth question

[localina13]

Hi everyone we just got our new jackson home last night and this morning we noticed him opening his mouth while he was sitting in his basking spot, basking spot temp is 82. I went ahead and shut his basking light off. Does the open mouth just mean that they are hot or could it mean sonething else. Thanks for your help. By the way he is around 8 months old.


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[Julirs]

Is he only doing it while you are around? He looks like he is threatening in the pictures. It can mean they are too hot, but 82 should be fine. DO you have a digital thermometer to get accurate temp readings? If he does it often or you see bubbles or hear wheezing, popping sounds it could be a respiratory infection.

 

[localina13]

Yep we have digital thermometer. No he is not just doing it when we are around you can look in through the doorway and see him with his mouth open. I just went and checked on him and even with the basking light shut off he still has his mouth open.

 

[Julirs]

Maybe raise the basking light or move it further away and see if he is still doing it.

 

[Redeye]

I would call the vet and get him checked for infection, he's a new cham and should get checked anywho

 

[localina13]

Okay just called and made a vet appointment for him on Tuesday

 

[xanthoman]

i would be sure your temp probe is directly in the basking spot and another one is in the the hottest spot of the cage, [maybe he basks somewhere you are not aware of when you are not around, and alot of times they will try to hang upside down on the ceiling of the cage just under the basking light (not good))]temps can be significantly different just a few inches away ,82* is appraoching the upper limits for a captive xanth , and they will often seek out temps that are higher than what is good for them, but it definitely looks like heat or hydration issue to me, although he does look a little dark or stressed so there may be other issues as well, also its hard to tell from your pics, but the parts of the cage that have light, look really bright, maybe he is just trying to escape the brightness, jacksons prefer a more subdued light source than many other chams, if you are using a cfl (or other super bright concentrated light) you might want to rethink your light source

 

[localina13]

We are using a Reptisun 5.0 tube light, and a 40 watt incandescent light.

 

[Jono]

Could just be him settling in, adjusting from his previous enclosure. My guy does that occasionally. The first couple of times I moved him out of the sun but he moved straight back into it. Its a temperature regulation thing so just see how he goes over the next few days.

 

[xanthoman]

if he is still doing it you might want to try smaller feeders, also be extra sure on the hydration thing , i mist my jax about 10 times a day and they are still often quite thirsty

 

[chameleonman57]

I heard they do that to get reed of heat if they are overheated just like when dogs breath through there mouth after running around a lot. It also means he needs more water. My female veiled does that occasionally too. If you need any help go this website http://webhome.idirect.com/~chameleon/pdf/owners_manual.pdf