Sleeping with mouth open?

[Defianceofexistence]

So I just peeked in on Loki before going to bed myself and he has been asleep since just after 7pm which is when his lights go out. I noticed that his mouth was open just a bit and every now and then I hear almost a very small smacking sound....he has never done this before so I'm a little worried about him....his urates are white and so I know he is drinking enough....he is eating like 13-15 small crickets a day and is active all day and never has his eyes closed.....I'm worried for my little man....any ideas/advice?

 

[carol5208]

Hate to say this, but is sounds like a respiratory infection. Does he point his hose upwards in the air at times also? That is not normal behavior to sleep with the mouth open. If it continues and is going on during the day, I would suggest getting your chameleon to a vet. He will need meds.

 

[djfishygillz]

What are you housing the chameleon in? If you could provide more info on your care and pictures of the chameleon and enclosure we could help more precisely. But yes Carol is right, most likely a respiratory infection.

 

[djfishygillz]

I looked at your previous post in other threads and saw the exo terra. Typically they allow enough ventilation but you may be over watering or if you have a humidifier it may be to high of humidity for him which can in some cases cause respiratory infections if there isn't enough air flow.

You said he didn't look dehydrated because his poops were totally white so maybe reduce the watering a bit and up the temps. Higher temps always have knocked out respiratory infections in my friends bearded dragons after they come out of brumation (where RI's are common because the dragons are cooled down and what not for a while where infection can thrive).

What are your night temps also? And what is your basking spot at? If the temps are too cold at night like below 60 that could make him susceptible to an RI.

 

[Defianceofexistence]

Thanks for all the replies...I think I am just being paranoid....after I posted he continued to sleep with this mouth closed and was fine....and when it was open it was just a crack..not all the way.....and the noise was my heater so that's embarrassing lol....I'm just so afraid something is going to happen to him...I am so attached to him.....

Today he is his normal energetic self, hunted down all his crickets and wandered around his cage and so I think he is just fine.....