Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a roughly 5 month old veiled and he has developed some nasal crust lately. I heard somewhere that ther sometimes excrete minerals from their nose. However, he did sneeze the other day and it seemed like something shot out, I don't know if it was some crust or mucus. I was afraid he was getting a URI but I may be over reacting. His humidity levels are always between 60-70% and his basking temp is 95 with the ambient being in the mid to low 80s. He does gape somewhat sometimes but only when he basks, I hope to only get cool. His colors are good and he eats very well. Please let me know what you think as well as what some of the symptoms of URI are. I want to make sure "Mr. Bojangles" is healthy.

Your temps sound about right. Some signs of a repiratory infection are slimy saliva and gasping. What color is the crust coming from his nose. if it is white he may be dehydrated.

yes, the crusts are white. I don't understand why he would be dehydrated because he is misted several times a day with an automatic mister and a hand mister as well. Also, i keep his crix hydrated with carrots. If he is dehydrated it would be because he chooses not to drink, no because it is not available to him...so why would he not choose to drink?

Check his poop, and see if the urates are white. If they are orangy than he is dehydrated for sure. If not, it's probably just excess minerals/salt.
Also, try and get a peek into his mouth while he's basking to check the colour and see if there is stringy mucus.
You could probably raise the basking temp to 100 for a veiled. Even higher a bit once he's older. If it is the start of a URI that will help a lot. Just keep an eye, let us know any other things that may be different, and we'll try and figure it out
~Lindsay
PS, I like his name!!!

It does sound like excess mineral salts. Some is normal, but if it is blocking his nostrils that's probably too much. Is your water very hard or high in calcium? That could be adding to it. Some other signs of URI include sleeping or resting with head tipped straight up, sleeping during the day, puffing out his throat in gulps over and over, heavy breathing that is visible with exaggerated movements of his ribcage, lethargy, no appetite, and spending more time than normal under the basking light even if temps are the same.

well, i do spray him with tapwater. His urates are completely white. When he sleeps, it has always been a usual position for him to sleep with his whole body pointing in an upward direction, I don't think this is the same as tipping his head in an upward position. He does gulp every now and then, maybe just a couple times during the day like you say...is this definitive or do you mean only excess gulping. Other than that, he has a great appetite and I have looked in his mouth when he hisses at me sometimes and I have not noticed anything out of the ordinary such as thick stringy mucus, looks normal.

With that you can usually hear a crackling sound when he breathes. Veileds will also blow excess salts and minerals out of their nose sometimes. Also sleeping with the whole body tipped up is fine. When they have a URI they pull their head straight up like looking up at the sky, not the whole body. Sometimes they don't sleep well at night and wander around in their cage. My first cham had a URI when I got him and the symptoms were very visible within a few days. It is also very treatable so if he did develop symptoms a vet could treat it for you.

thanks a lot folks. You have definately quelled my fears.