My blue tongue lizard is always in his water bowl. Is he sick or hot?

Thanks for reaching out about Stummpy and including a photo. Mild upper respiratory infections can present similar to this. Respiratory secretions can accumulate over night due to less vigorous respiration during sleep. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a treatment plan, prior to possibly evolving into a more serious problem. Check and correct husbandry, including temperature and humidity. Good luck.

The easiest thing to do is to check tank temperature. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. Next, look in and around the mouth for signs of infection or injury. This may include redness, swelling, bruising, bleeding or discharge. If you see anything suspicious, you'll need to have your lizard physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. For now, soak in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes daily. This will provide warmth and hydration. Be sure to feed appropriately sized prey, no bigger than the space between the eyes.

I think Ron Junior should be fine. Hopefully he is just full. If you are truly worried the only option I can give you is to take him to a reptile vet for an exam. One reason for open mouth breathing in reptiles is respiratory infection. It just may be coincidental that he started this breathing after eating so many crickets. The most common reason for illness in captive reptiles in improper husbandry. I suggest you make sure you have his housing, lighting, temperature, etc correct. Here is a husbandry article: https://www.cuteness.com/article/care-blue-belly-lizard Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for reaching out about Drago. Check and correct husbandry including environmental temperature and UVB exposure. If too cold, metabolic, appetite and immune systems are suppressed. Try offering vegetables by hand or pureed through a syringe. Open mouth breathing could be a respiratory infection, enlarged internal organ or metabolic concern. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. A diagnosis early in the problem, usually has a better prognosis. Good luck.

Check the temperature in the enclosure. Low temps can affect appetite and activity in reptiles. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes. Gently massage his abdomen, front to back, during the soak to stimulate defecation in case he is constipated. See your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet if your monitor does not begin eating or remains lethargic. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth.

Thanks for reaching out and including photos with lesions. This could be a result of a poor shed, infection or trauma. If doing well and eating/acting normally, maybe wait until the next shed to see if lesions disappear. If he appears ill, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Have her examined by your veterinarian. He or she may be able to consult, by phone or online, with a specialist to reach a diagnosis and to obtain treatment information. The larger veterinary reference labs offer consultation services with a wide variety of specialists as well. Trauma, infection, nutritional deficiency or environmental issues can all cause issues with they eye. Confirm proper diet, temperature and humidity. Choose a safe substrate and survey the enclosure for any object that may potentially cause injury.