Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Beardie has been shedding for over a week now, but seems to be having problems shedding his head. I mist him daily and soak him every now and then in warm water. He has been using a rock to scratch his skin off, but can't seem to get it off of his nose/beard area. I have come into the room several times to find him gaping (not under the heat lamp) and sometimes what seems to be gasping for air. I pulled some shed skin from his nose but it seems like he is breathing mostly with his mouth open. Has anyone had this happen before? Any suggestions? Thanks!

The gaping is a natural behavior that beardeds perform. When basking and they begin to get hot they will often open their mouth to release internal heat. While this is normal once in a while, if your dragon is doing this constantly it may be a sign that he is too hot or his basking area temps are off. Use a temp gun to accurately measure the temp and always assume the margin of error is towards the high side high. Give vertical stratification to their basking area that will allow them to move closer/farther away dependant on their temperature.

In terms of shed, try using a dripper to drip warm drops of water onto his head to moisturize the skin and loosen it up. Continue with the mistings and weekely bath. That should all help. It never hurts to help them with a problem she either.

mouth gaping is normal, like the l;ast reply said they do it to release internal heat. my guys sometimes have problems sheading their head/beard area, i wet my finger and i place my finger under tha flap of where the skin is sheading. sometimes it helps, sometimes they gotta get it off by them selves, never pull on the sheading skin though!

i know that reptiles gape to release heat, he's not gaping. it seems like he is having respratory problems. he'll be completely normal then just seem to gasp for air. if anyone has experience with beardie breathing problems and has any advice please share. thanks

Is he wheezing? If you look in the nostrils can you see any shedding skin that maybe blocking airwais? They shed inside of the nostrils too, pretty deep, about 1/4". If it's not a shed and you can hear wheezing plus exssesive gaping I think it's time to see the vet.