Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently purchased a lovely juvenile JCP from a local shop, whom I've purchased from before. That night, my little boy(named Chaioth), was out and about in the foliage of his terrarium and I noticed him yawning every ten minutes or so. He hadn't eaten since the last monday and I wasn't sure if he was just resetting his jaw or what, so I've been keeping close watch.
Lately, now that I've been handling and taming him down more often, I've noticed that he sometimes lets out a short breath every so often but not every time I hold him. Like a short hiss, very quiet. I haven't noticed any mucus or leakage from his mouth or nose, and no other sounds when he breathes...
Could these be signs that I bought a sick puppy?
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_Caitlin

mine does the same thing. so i think its just their way of breathing. i just kept and eye and ear on him to see if anything developed and he's been fine. but i dont know about the 'yawning'. occasionally mine will yawn but not all the time. this morning he did a weard thing...he was laying on his big branches, he's 6-7 foot, he stired a little and his head shook. ya know like someone gets the chills for a second. i don't know what that is all about.
anyways, i would just wait and see. if he developes some discharge then take him to a vet.
just my thoughts...

You should be fine, My JCP makes those short breath/hiss spurts as well. Just as long as there's no bubbles coming from his nose and he's not dripping mucas from his mouth. About the "Chill" type shake that your JCP does Janome. I noticed mine doing the same thing. He'd be still on his branch and then his neck and head would shake up and down briefly. Weird.

I have a 6-7 foot JCP that does this as well. She will let out a short breath every 2-3 minutes, that is not as loud as a "hiss", but you can hear it. She also demonstrates the "chill" of her head once in a while as well. I have had her for a long time, and she has never developed any kind of mucus, or discharge of any type. I have a yearling JCP that is just starting to exhibit the verbal breathing as well.

Thanks to all for the info and helpful reassurance.

Isn't it strange that they exhibit these traits yet are seemingly perfectly healthy? Hm. Perhaps normal bodily functions like our yawns and random body spasms.
Little serpentine sighs.

I'll post pictures of my little Chaioth on here soon.
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_Caitlin

You said local, did ya get it from Campbell? If you did, did you get the little ones or the year old ones? Just curious because I got one of the young ones and she looks more like the yearling with how much I feed her. Their stock is form Doug (an east bay breeder) and is very good quality! Good luck with it!

P.S. the pic might be her sibling, old pics, she looks better now…

Yes, in San Jose; P&M. I bought one of the older ones, haven't been able to take pictures yet seeing as my camera is MIA. Soon.
She's lovely - great eye color.
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_Caitlin

P&M is a great place! You got a good animal! Did you get to see their 5yr old JPC Striker? She’s about the best looking JPC I have seen in person. She is VERY docile. They take her out for kid’s parties in the back.

-Good luck.

Yes, I did! She was one of the reasons I bought a JCP. Very lovely girl.
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)}{( Love and Serpents )}{(
_Caitlin