Do you think my skink has an RI?
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 2:05 pm
Hi! So as you guys have seen, I’m a new owner, and I have been asking a few very specific questions. This is another one of those times. From what I’ve read about respiratory infections, a lot of things could be symptoms but aren’t necessarily. I’ll go to a vet of course if there’s any real concern, but I don’t want to do that if I’m just being a helicopter mom about nothing. So, if any of you guys would tell me if these are normal skink things or something to worry about, that would help a lot! So, here goes:
Reasons he may have an RI:
He sneezes(or huffs-a combination, I think) a lot-sometimes it seems involuntary, and his body kind of jumps.
He has a little patch of something around his nose-damaged scales, normal scuffs from digging or eating, or “discharge”? Picture included.
EDIT: the powder around his nose does look like the calcium powder I put on his food every other day-that could also be what it is.
He had some bubbles coming out the side of his mouth after eating some snails-I’ve read that might be normal, but still worrisome!
He sometimes holds his mouth slightly open, and has opened it about halfway for no apparent reason a couple times.
His mouth sometimes makes a creaky noise when he opens and closes it.
Reasons he may not have an RI:
He’s not lethargic at all-he still climbs around and is very friendly, except when he was shedding.
His temps are pretty good-about 70-75 on the cool side and 90-95 on the warm side(warmer on his rock).
His humidity is about 30-50 percent.
His eyes are clear, and he’s not wheezing or crackling or anything like that.
I’ve read a lot about respiratory infections, and since he’s a Northern, I know they don’t often get them.
Okay, that’s basically all the information I have that’s been worrying me...sorry to bother you if all of this is nothing, but if there might be a problem I have to take care of him. I don’t have much experience with reptiles, and I want to treat him right. Thank you to anyone who actually read this far!
Reasons he may have an RI:
He sneezes(or huffs-a combination, I think) a lot-sometimes it seems involuntary, and his body kind of jumps.
He has a little patch of something around his nose-damaged scales, normal scuffs from digging or eating, or “discharge”? Picture included.
EDIT: the powder around his nose does look like the calcium powder I put on his food every other day-that could also be what it is.
He had some bubbles coming out the side of his mouth after eating some snails-I’ve read that might be normal, but still worrisome!
He sometimes holds his mouth slightly open, and has opened it about halfway for no apparent reason a couple times.
His mouth sometimes makes a creaky noise when he opens and closes it.
Reasons he may not have an RI:
He’s not lethargic at all-he still climbs around and is very friendly, except when he was shedding.
His temps are pretty good-about 70-75 on the cool side and 90-95 on the warm side(warmer on his rock).
His humidity is about 30-50 percent.
His eyes are clear, and he’s not wheezing or crackling or anything like that.
I’ve read a lot about respiratory infections, and since he’s a Northern, I know they don’t often get them.
Okay, that’s basically all the information I have that’s been worrying me...sorry to bother you if all of this is nothing, but if there might be a problem I have to take care of him. I don’t have much experience with reptiles, and I want to treat him right. Thank you to anyone who actually read this far!