Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ugh, everything started out so well with my guy! Somehow, he's gone from apparently good to RI in just a few days. The vet is finally open tomorrow, so he'll be going in first thing.

I am just amazed at how quickly this has progressed. The first day I got him (last Wednesday), I didn't notice anything and he ate for me. Three days later (Saturday), he defecated and I took him out to clean and spend a little time handling him, and he was pretty calm and curious. As I was handling him, I noticed some popping, a little mucus, and what seemed like a lot of yawning. Today (Monday) he's now gasping and blowing bubbles! I feel awful and I'm just stunned that he's taken such a quick turn for the worst.

I imagine part of this is my fault, as I was following outdated info in a book I got several years ago. I just picked up the book by NERD, and made the corrections needed. The humidity was low for the first two days I had him, I've since raised it, but it bounces around a bit from 75-80% after spraying to 55-60% by morning. The only other problem is that my night drop was too much thanks to the old book.

Could those two things have caused such a rapid deterioration in his health, or do you think I got him sick from the store and just made it worse with my inexperience?

Being a noob sucks at times!

My first BP:

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Official Leopard Gecko Herder
Watch for grinning-geckos.com coming this summer!

6:12:2 Leos Gilean, Aurora, Tigerlily ...Getting to have too many to name here!
2:0 Cats - Troi and Mitsu (shhhhh...don't tell them they're neutered!)
1:0 Husband - Eric (He's a lot of work, but it's worth it.)

he might have been sick when you got him, they will still eat and act normal with a mild RI.

I doubt your humidity had anything to do with it, I keep mine at 55-60 regularly, and bump it up for sheds.

how low were your nighttime temps?? I would believe that is probably were the problem was.

Once you see fluid from nostril/mouth, it isn't minor anymore, and it can progress rapidly at that point.

If you catch it at early symptoms, open mouth breathing, nose pointed up ect..; then you might get away with increasing the heat as treatment, but it sounds like your in need of some meds now.
Keep him warm, I keep RI balls at 93-94 deg on hot side, high 80's cool side, it helps them recover.

good luck
TomChambers

The night drop was 75, which I've heard from a few people that it's shouldn't be so low as to cause and RI.

Right now, I've discontinued the night drop until I get a chance to talk to the vet and get him feeling better.

His humidity is 60% now, but was about 40% for the first two days (my hydrometer wasn't working and needed a new one).

The warm side is 90-95. The bedding makes it a bit variable. The cool side it 82. He's been spenpding day and night on the warm side.

He didn't start blowing bubbles until yesterday. It was really freaking me out. He's still blowing them every now and then, but he actually looks a bit better (not so out of it).

The vet was totally booked today, but I've got an appointment for tomorrow at 10am. I hope we can get this to clear up pretty quickly. I've already gotten attatched to the little guy, and I'd hate for him to get any worse (not to mention die!).
-----
Official Leopard Gecko Herder
Watch for grinning-geckos.com coming this summer!

6:12:2 Leos Gilean, Aurora, Tigerlily ...Getting to have too many to name here!
2:0 Cats - Troi and Mitsu (shhhhh...don't tell them they're neutered!)
1:0 Husband - Eric (He's a lot of work, but it's worth it.)

OI! That was really bad!
-----
Official Leopard Gecko Herder
Watch for grinning-geckos.com coming this summer!

6:12:2 Leos Gilean, Aurora, Tigerlily ...Getting to have too many to name here!
2:0 Cats - Troi and Mitsu (shhhhh...don't tell them they're neutered!)
1:0 Husband - Eric (He's a lot of work, but it's worth it.)