Do Lizards get the hiccups?

Zegion · #1 08-25-2010, 11:01 PM

The past few days the ambient room temp has been rather high and with no central heat and air it can be a challenge to regulate it. I noticed yesterday that my Japalura had been panting. Managed to drop the temp a bit... panting problem solved. Then I noticed this evening, he has been acting as if he had the hiccups as well as wiggling the same way a snake would when working thier food down. Could this be the case? Humidity is golden around 75-80% temp is a wee high around 88 daytime temp and 80 at night. His crickets did get a little bit of a heavy calcium dusting ( more than normal ) but I don't think this would cause a problem. Any suggestions.. thoughts anything? He has been doing this for about an hr now and its starting to worry me.

I also noticed he has not been drinking from the plant leaves, and not drinking when I spray him all the time as he normally does.

TY in advance!
Zegion

Zegion · #2 08-26-2010, 09:00 PM

OK figured out that lizards do not get hiccups. I will record a video of his strange behavior and post it after I cook dinner. Hopefully someone can tell me what is going on. He was rather docile for the 1st time ever, didn't really react to me petting him and really did not react to me picking him up until I had him in my hand for a few seconds. Then he started to move around a bit. He is still acting as if he has the hiccups, and wiggling in place like a snake would to work it's food down.

beckdg · #3 08-27-2010, 06:03 PM

you may want to pm froggsong. she's the only member i know for sure has japaluras.

i'd still continue with this thread just in case...

Nighsliv · #4 08-27-2010, 11:23 PM

To be honest, to me it sounds like he might be having a hard time breathing. Especially if he seems less scared of you (I.e. lethargic) and is squirming around.
Is he still eating good and moving like normal or just sitting in one spot?

Zegion · #5 08-28-2010, 06:49 PM

He is moving around like normal and since I first posted, he has stopped breathing funny (for now). He hides in the only spot he can all the time and does not have enough to climb on so his movement consists of hanging out near the light when he is not chasing crickets. The ambient temp has dropped about 8 degrees in the past 2 days also, so maybe he was just getting too hot. I have been working pretty hard on his new enclosure but money has been tight so it's a slow process.

As soon as I get it finished it will be easier to maintain proper temps and keep his humidity stable all the time. As far as his wiggles, I think maybe he is going to shed soon. He has not shed since I rescued him and his color is looking a little faded.

Maybe I am just paranoid..

... 1st real go at lizards and I am doing everything right for the most part so we will see.

Thanks for the reply!