BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

So I've had Donatello since the begining of August of this year and he's about five months old now. Lately I've been leaving him alone since it looked like he was about to shed again, and he tends to turn into an angsty little teenager while he sheds. >:/

Today I handled him for the first time in a while (He looked like he was all done and his belly was going back to its normal color), and while I was doing so I noticed he was making some weird noises. I don't mean like the sneezing or the cute little nose-whistle noises he makes when he's sniffing around; today while he was crawling around on my bed and sniffing around, it sounded like he had a little bit of fluid in there somewhere. It wasn't constant, it just randomly sounded like he had a light case of the sniffles for... one exhale/inhale..... whatever you'd call it. Breath? Anyway, it only happened a few times and they were spread apart. I'm not sure what the cause would be; there isn't any discharge anywhere and he's not acting any differently or any less alert than he normally is.

The other thing is that when I picked him up to move him, he was really close to my face and I swear it looked like he made some sort of geasture like he was... holding back vomit or gagging. His throat puffed up and he looked like he swallowed. Or something. I'd never seen him do that before. He couldn't have eaten something; I had my eyes on him the whole time.


I don't know if I'm overreacting, but I'm just really paranoid about my pets' health since my cat suddenly got sick and died last year. (/cry) I've never had a reptile before so I'm 4634638783 times more paranoid.
DONNIE DON'T DIE.
:c

i can inform you what i know, but not tell you if its something dangerous or not. i wouldnt be too worried though.

huffing is a sound they make. can be quite loud and they kinda fill their entire lungs and throat while blowing it out.
its to mark irritation or existence. but not a threat.

sometimes a little stuck shed near the nose can make the sniffing sound a little different.

the last things just sound as if he was nervous or stressed since its the first time you handle hes not used to it.

if you hear heavy, rustling breathing or see liquid from nose, crust in the eyes or excessive drooling ( not when hes just drunk, they tend to spill loose food too), then be wary and take it to a vet.

in general:
- alert skink
- eating properly
- drinking properly
- pooping properly (at least once a week)

means you have a healthy skink

wait for more info from other skink owners! im not the most experienced when it comes to diseases and sounds as my skink never makes any sounds.

Watch for any discharge from the eyes or nose. Watch to see if he is lethargic. Listen for other sounds.

I'd say Donatello is probably just fine. They make odd sounds once in a while. If you don't notice any behavior changes or any signs of illness, and the wheezing sound doesn't continue then you have nothing to worry about. If the sound continues and it does sound like fluid or a kind of crackle / wheeze then you should take him in to the vet.

It is great that you care enough about him to be worried! I'm sure he is in good hands.