Skink Gagging/Hacking!?

[NH93]

Hey everyone!

It has been so so long since I have been on here... it makes me sad. Life has been nuts the past couple of months, and I apologize for coming on here just to ask a question!

Over the past few weeks my blue tongued skink has been making weird hacking noises. To me it sounds as if she were about to throw up, but she never does. She coughs or gags a couple of times (sounds awful), then goes back to normal. It happens so randomly and quickly that I haven't been able to get it recorded on my phone. I hear it happen about once a day, sometimes more, sometimes less or not every day. I haven't noticed a pattern with her eating and "hacking" or coughing, so I'm not sure that's the reason.

My first thought was respiratory infection, but I'm also unsure.
She is in a 48"x24"x12" PVC vive with a heat lamp on a dimmer and timer (12 hour intervals). Her daytime cool side temp ranges in the mid 70's (about 74-80F), night time it is no cooler than 72F. Her day time warm spot at it's highest is 98-100F. She is on aspen bedding, humidity about 30% right now. She is a very active skink and cruises her vive a lot, makes tunnels, sleeps out in the open often (I attribute that to her being comfortable), and scratches at the glass to come out ALL THE TIME.

What are your thoughts??

THANK YOU!

 

[daddio207]

Your temps are right on and humidity is good. Do you have a water bowl ? Are you using a UVB light? Both required if not....
Sneezing and yawning are common with BTS's. I can't say that I ever noticed our BTS's gagging more than once or twice since we've kept them.
Possibly something in there diet is causing a bit of an upset stomach. Might want to check and remove anything that is harder for BTS's to digest.
That's my best guess is that it is something in it's diet that is hard to digest.
Good luck

 

[NH93]

Your temps are right on and humidity is good. Do you have a water bowl ? Are you using a UVB light? Both required if not....
Sneezing and yawning are common with BTS's. I can't say that I ever noticed our BTS's gagging more than once or twice since we've kept them.
Possibly something in there diet is causing a bit of an upset stomach. Might want to check and remove anything that is harder for BTS's to digest.
That's my best guess is that it is something in it's diet that is hard to digest.
Good luck

Hey there,

Thank you for the reply!
Of course I have a water bowl I do not have a UVB light but she gets vitamins. Very common practice for BTS owners and breeders - it was recommended to me from her breeder, John Delahaye, who is quite well-known in Canada.

I'm wondering about her diet though. She eats a homemade mixture I based on the LLL Reptile's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urZFjIMUbHU

 

[daddio207]

Hey there,

Thank you for the reply!
Of course I have a water bowl I do not have a UVB light but she gets vitamins. Very common practice for BTS owners and breeders - it was recommended to me from her breeder, John Delahaye, who is quite well-known in Canada.

I'm wondering about her diet though. She eats a homemade mixture I based on the LLL Reptile's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urZFjIMUbHU

I figured you had a water dish LOL. I only mentioned it because some breeder/owners say it isn't necessary. I do know a lot of them also don't recommend a UVB light but I there is no harm in using one and have seen IBD in BTS's without the use of it. A well known BTS breeder in the states highly recommends it. As usual conflicting info LOL.


PS I'll check out the Vid when I have a chance