Clarification on gaping:



When a cham is basking and has just about reached the "too hot" phase under a basking light, they often gape. Remember, ironically most herps do not have that many temperature sensors in their skin and there is a bit of a lag before they realize they are hot. Gaping and turning a pale color (pale colors reflect heat away, dark colors absorb heat) are the ways they show a high body temp. Once they reach daily "operating temp" they move out of the heat if they can. Once they move, the gaping should stop in a few minutes. If your cham is spending most of its time under the basking spot and NOT gaping, it may be too cool in the cage generally.



A cham with a respiratory infection (Upper Respiratory Infection or pneumonia) will show other signs besides gaping. They will gape, but it is more of a series of hard gulping and swallowing, puffing their gular pouch over and over, ribs working in and out, not eating or drinking, not moving much if any, their mouth may show a lot of sticky saliva. They often perch still and dark with their head tilted straight up...trying to breathe more easily.



Does this help?



Also, you don't want the cage to stay above 70F at night. The night temp drop is important, especially with montane species.

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