Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I have my Mali in a 30 breeder. She was breathing really weird last night before I put her to bed... Heavy short breaths with her mouth open. The temp in her cave right now is 93 degrees and the temp under the basking lamp is at 105. She seems very strange to me today. She hasn't come out of her cave... Just her head is sticking out. Usually she comes out in the morning when I put her food in. Today I had to hand feed her but she won't come out of her cave... I have been watching her closely and no breathing problems today... Any thoughts why she's acting strange??
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1 Mali Uro - Matilda
1 Leopard Tort - Herman
1 Shih Tzu - Jake

you say that shes in a 30 gallon breeder. How big is she? She might be too big for the cage you have.

I just did some rearranging of the tank. She's 9 inches from tip of nose to tip of tail. She was retreating to a cork bark cave... I now took that away and put a habba hut instead. If she is too hot, maybe this will protect her more than the cork bark. I don't understand why she wont go to a cooler area. I also have an under the tank heater where she is laying under the habba hut... Maybe this under the tank heater is no good... Too hot perhaps from bottom up... It doesn't seem natural to me but the pet store said that I needed it. I just feel bad that I took her cave away that she seemed to enjoy.
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1 Mali Uro - Matilda
1 Leopard Tort - Herman
1 Shih Tzu - Jake

hm, what i've learned from this forum and care sheets, 105 under basking is too low...it should be around 120!
maybe she/he has to low temp in the cage!
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1.0.0 Ball python (Oz)
0.0.1 Hardwicki Uro (Amon)
0.1.0 Black cat (Tomika)

Thank you. I am going to go out and get a higher watt bulb tomorrow. She seems to be doing OK today but I wasn't home for most of the day. Last night she slept outside of her cave on a thermorock. I have a feeling something is not right. I am going to do as you say. Thanks for the advice!
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Lisa

1 Mali Uro - Matilda
1 Leopard Tort - Herman
1 Shih Tzu - Jake

lisasmith@optonline.net

The basking area should be at least 120 degrees F. And make sure the whole tank isn't too hot. My cage is 125 on the basking side, and 85-90 on the cool side.
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Mike
1.1.1 maliensis (Spike, Marshmellow, Hummer)
1.0 acanthinurus-werneri (Mongas)
0.1 ornata (Chubs)
0.1 Pit Bull/German Shephard/Lab/ect. mix (Kodak) - looks like an over grown toco bell dog.

Uromastyx Pics

I turned a heat bulb off in the back of my tank to cool off the area where I have her habba hut. I noticed lately that she's not sleeping in her cave but rather sleeping out in the open on top of a thermorock. She has this labored breathing thing only when she's in the hot area. The hottest that it reached today under the basking lamp was 110. The cool side stays at approximately 80 degrees. I took her out of the tank tonight and after a little while she became really active and that lasted until I put her lights off to go to sleep. I am not sure why she is breathing the way she is... My temps seem to be ok. Have your Mali's done this before? Thanks Mike for your advice. I appreciate it!
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1 Mali Uro - Matilda
1 Leopard Tort - Herman
1 Shih Tzu - Jake

Apparently it's called gaping. I just was viewing a website and they called the symptoms gaping. I am a little less concerned since she is gaping when she is basking. I guess this is so she can adjust her own body temperature. They said that if she is doing this when she is in the cool side, that is when you should worry because it could mean parasites or a repiratory infection. I am so relieved!!!
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Lisa

1 Mali Uro - Matilda
1 Leopard Tort - Herman
1 Shih Tzu - Jake

lisasmith@optonline.net

hi lisa, i don't think you should be using a hotrock as these rocks can become VERY hot. since you are not sure of your exact temps maybe it is this rock causing your problems. they are just not a trustworthy item to have. just my thoughts. good luck. laura