Gaping Cham - asleep!?

[lizgentry]

Hi all,

I went in to my room today and my cham was gaping and asleep!

Her light had been off for about half an hour. She had fallen asleep in her basking spot - which is odd - but she's abit restless at the mo so im not too worried about that.

She is also receptive/possibly gravid.

I checked her temps etc at 3.30pm and all were fine. It was 8.00pm when i found her gaping. I turned my bedroom light on and she woke up and closed her mouth.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Carlton]

Watch her to see if she's spending a lot of time just sitting under the basking light than she usually does. If her color is dark most of the time as if she's cold even though there hasn't been a change in the general room temp range. If she is sitting with her snout tipped up and gaping. If she is visibly gulping or puffing out her throat over and over. These are signs of a respiratory infection.

 

[lizgentry]

Ok thanks i will look out for those.

How would she contract an RI - out of interest?

I have been keeping a lose eye on her recently anyway because i suspect she is gravid.

I have noticed she is basking alot - but then the temps here have been cooler recently.

And she has been quite restless.

Other than that her colour is great and i havent noticed anything else. I will keep an eye out.

 

[Carlton]

Chams can develop respiratory infections due to stagnant air that is high in bacteria or mold. Very high constant humidity without some air exchange can bring this out.

I know gravid chams do bask more, but as you say, cooler temps can take her longer to warm up in the am. Many chams end up sleeping where they will get the basking heat the next morning. I've seen chams in the wild roosting on the tips of branches where the early sun will hit them and warm them up.