Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As some of you may have read in my post below, I lost Isis, my dearly loved Chuckwalla of 15 years, about 3 weeks after she laid 7 eggs. Now, Isis HAD to be in her twenties, because she was at least 6 years old IMHO when I got her. She was gaining her weight back and eating well when, all of a sudden, she started gasping for air and trying to regurgitate. I don't believe she ate anything the others did not eat, and she died within two days of the onset of the gasping episodes, July 3rd to 5th. So sudden!
Now, I have a wc, which I got in 2004, who has ALWAYS gasped a little, particularly after a feeding frenzy, and sometimes early in the morning. Never when I am holding her. The two lizards were housed together, so I am wondering if Greta is a Typhoid Mary. Also, of course, I am very worried about Greta now, having seen the death of Isis. DOES ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SORT OF BEHAVIOR?? If it is a respiratory disease, which Greta has fought off for 3 years, could it be treatable? I need your collective advice. Thanks in advance!!!

Hey Maureen,

I had a similar experience years ago with two young Chucks. I had set them up in a really nice cage, and they were doing great. Both were eating extremely well etc..

After being in captivity for almost a year one of them started to gasp occasionally, and slowed down with eating. Soon after that the other began doing the same.

I noticed that there were "oozing" bumps on the back of the neck and read that this is diet related, and can also be related to high humidity levels. The bumps showed up almost overnight!

I knew that the diet was pretty good and that they were getting enough UV, so I suspected humidity. Our family had the washing machine, and dryer in the garage and I always figured that the problem was caused by that.

I lost one of the little guys, but managed to do something right for the other. I moved him outside for a few weeks, then he seemed to have escaped back to where he came from... wink,wink!

I also lost a large portion of my herp collection to pneumonia. It seemed to jump from one specimen to the next, and by the time the first one died they were all showing signs. That caused me to get out of reptile collecting for about 10 years. The strange thing with pneumonia is that it is usually temp related. I know that in my collection it was not, and never could put a finger on what caused it.

I hope something here can help, however reptiles, especially Chucks are so delicate that it could be something as simple as dust, or too much airflow or not enough.

Sorry to read about the loss of such an old friend.
-Kory

Thanks for your input, Kory. I have never had any respiratory problems before, and keep my cages at hot temps with cooler spots and don't ever put water in the cages at all...also, they have wire tops, so there is no humidity build up. Time to see a good vet.

Hi Maureen,
Although I've never had a chuckwalla with a uri,
I have come across uromastyx with this problem
every once in a great while. I would medicate with
baytril which works very well for upper respiratory
infections. Within a matter of weeks the symptoms
would diminish and the uros were back to good
health once again.

It does not sound as if you are dealing with a uri on
these chuckwalla. If one should get a uri it would
only worsen as the infection would eventually become
fatal unless meds were administered. If this was a
three year battle it would indeed be an extremely long
lived infection which just doesn't sound right to me.

In an upper respiratory infecting you would most likely
see mucus bubbling form the nostrils and some obvious
mucus in their snouts and not just dry heaving as if trying
to catch their breaths. I don't believe the culprit was simply
a respiratory infection but possibly more of a chronic
breathing problem. Possibly caused by the fine dust
from the substrate. Had you changed the substrate in
their pens? Maybe purchased a different brand or type
of substrate? Does the substrate you've been using seem
to be extremely dusty ... especially when they are active
or when you are sifting it clean? Just thinking out loud here.

By all means, get a vet check on them.
John

Thanks for the suggestions and shared knowledge, John. The only thing in common with these three female Chuckwallas was that they had all spent a week or two on vermiculite in an egg box. But, as I mentioned, Greta came to me as a w/c three years ago and my memory says that she always did gasp a bit. No change in substrata. I keep my chucks on old clean textured linens or towels, and have been doing so for many years. They are always washed with an extra rinse and never any bleach. But the girls go to the vet tomorrow. Many thanks again for your post!

Maureen

When you say they spent a week or two in an egg
box in vermiculite do you mean as babies just out
of the eggs or that you had them as adults in a box
with vermiculite as a substrate?

Some vermiculites contain asbestos and that's why
I am curious as to them being on it for a week or two.
OR, did I misunderstand you?

John

Recently, the adult females all spent time in an egg-laying box with vermiculite. BTW, not being able to see a vet until today, I began giving the two afflicted females Baytril, just in case the infection, or whatever, was bacterial in nature. Four days into Baytril, and Ruby is not showing any signs of breathing difficulty and Greta is much improved, but DEEP breathing without gasping once in awhile. (Obviously, they knew they were going to the doctor! LOL) Apparently,according to the veterinarian, lizards can have: lung cancer, congestive heart failure, bacterial lung infections, viral lung problems, pneumonia, etc. And they can get a "lung wash", yes, that's right, a lung wash, where a little tube is inserted into the lungs and they are saline washed a vacuumed dry. Can humans get that? Wow. Blood tests, swabs, and x-rays can be done to see what is ailing them. Gosh, I hope this Baytril does the trick!

Just jumped in way late Maureen to say how sorry I am about you losing a long time friend Iris, such a shame. I know how they grow on ya. I have had my Chewy now for almost 8 years.

Anyway, I hope you find out the cause of the breathing problems, let us know!
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PHEve / Eve

Geesh, hope she will forgive me, I meant well
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PHEve / Eve