Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I've had my little buddy Lyell since November '03. He's 6 months old now and is an amel albino corn. Recently he's been what looks like sneezing or coughing and he has me very concerned. It's not constant, but it isn't anything like a hiss. I'm worried about the little guy. He's so far still been eating well and doesn't really show any other signs that something is amiss. I use Aspen bedding, have a good thermal gradient for him, and occasionally mist the cage (I have recently but more often when he's about to shed).
I would take him into the vet but unfortionatly I'm a poor starving college student who can't afford to go to the doctor myself, so I'm looking to see if I can rule out anything serious through some expert advice. This is where you all come in! Please respond ASAP if you have any experience with this kind of thing to let me know what could be going on. I'm especially hoping for good adivce that this isn't something I have to worry about.

Thanks!

Please keep in mind that this is just oppinion...
I would not! mist the animals cage, unless! it is shedding...
If you are spraying the cage and the bedding is getting wet cancause a hole aray of problems for you and your friend...
I would recomend that you heat the animal up slightly. (on one side of cage) Less humidity.
ALSO:
My Okeetee had some thing stuck in his throat and he sounded as if he had a cough and a slight sneez too. At the very least as you are a student I would call a reputable reptile vet and ask them for some thaughts. If you are in college, check with the school, they may have some one who knows reptiles. (ie: vet classes) Also: if you are useing a bedding such as pine or aspen and it has not been cleaned/vaccuumed (dust removed) this can cause respotory infection too.
Please never use cedar of any kind, especialy reptiles...
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IS THERE ANY ONE ELES WITH A MORE ACURATE APPROACH???

i may be way off here, but when my corn was getting close to shedding, he'd start making funny respiritory noises, like sneezing etc. yawning as well. once he shed he was good to go and i've seen it a few more times a couple days before the blue phase. i'd say its just their way of dealing with a layer of dead skin over their nostrils. maybe this helps?
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-ryan
fancher@email.com
ultimate frisbee, volkswagens and snakes.