Squeaking?

[Blueythebluetongue]

Hi guys, I'm back with yet ANOTHER QUESTION!
Blue has been doing this weird thing when he breathes, sometimes it sounds like he's squeaking/wheezing? Is something wrong?

[Susann]

Could be. If it's a change from how he's sounded before then there might be a cause for concern.

[jdheff1982]

Hi guys, I'm back with yet ANOTHER QUESTION!
Blue has been doing this weird thing when he breathes, sometimes it sounds like he's squeaking/wheezing? Is something wrong?

Mine has done this since the day he arrived. It sound just like a slightly stuffed nose. Since these guys like to burrow, I am not surprised that their noses may be partially "stuffed" more often than not. I wouldn't be concerned until your skink is unable to breathe with its mouth closed. If you find it keeping its mouth open for long periods of time (more than the occasional yawn), then you would have a reason to be concerned. Take a close look around the eyes and nose and look for any signs of discharge. If present, your skink may have a respiratory problem.

[Blueythebluetongue]

I have been watching those areas for the past couple days and there is no signs of discharge at all. He yawns once or twice a day and always sleeps but doesn't have it open for long periods of time

[CleverCritters]

If there's no sign of discharge and your lizard is behaving normally there may be a small obstruction somewhere in the nasal passage. A really easy thing to try is placing the lizard in a warm (25-27 degrees Celsius) enclosure where the humidity is very high for about an hour/day. Think of it as giving your lizard a some time in a steam room (make sure you sanitise the tub thoroughly every time you use it). If this is going to work, I've found that it usually does so in under a week.

If that doesn't fix it, or if the lizard's behaviour or condition changes (stopped eating, discharge from nostrils or mouth, breathing through mouth etc), then it's probably time to go to the vet to get it checked out (or nostrils syringed etc). Hope this helps.

[Blueythebluetongue]

Ok, where do you recommend placing him? I don't really have a humid room but I have a small bathroom I could make humid and just keep an eye on him

[CleverCritters]

Hi Blueythebluetongue,

I think you may have misunderstood. It doesn't have to be a room, in fact a plastic tub might be a more practical solution. When I do this, I place a small plastic tub (50cm * 30cm) with air holes over a heat mat or heat cord such as would heat the tub to 26-30 degrees Celcius, and place a small waterbowl in the middle. I leave the waterbowl in the tub with the heat on for about an hour to allow some water to evaporate and condense on the walls before I put the lizard in. I leave the heat on, then put the lizard in for about an hour.

[Blueythebluetongue]

Ohhhhh! Okay! Thanks Ill try it out

[Blueythebluetongue]

Also, this isa bit off topic, but how warm does it have to be for me to take him outside? Its about 80F at the moment outside

[Ophidiophile]

Also, this isa bit off topic, but how warm does it have to be for me to take him outside? Its about 80F at the moment outside

I can't wait for it to be 80F here so I can give my skinks some natural sun (and photograph them outdoors). 80F is definitely warm enough to take them outside.

[Blueythebluetongue]

Whats the lowest temp I can take him out at? Im taking him out today, its the last day before a major cold front comes through

[CleverCritters]

Whats the lowest temp I can take him out at? Im taking him out today, its the last day before a major cold front comes through

Not totally certain; I have only worked with and kept Australian species. James Wilson writes: "The Irian Jaya blue-tongued skink inhabits the dry tropical regions of southern coastal New Guinea that are similar in climate and habitat to adjacent northern Australia." http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=20579&cityname=Sorong-West-Papua-Indonesia&units=metric

I hope this helps.