opening mouth behaviour in water dragon

Question
QUESTION: My water dragon has been opening his mouth for extended periods of time for the last 2 or 3 days. He is eating and drinking without any problems and is quite active. I want to find out if this is a respirtory infection or maybe something else?

I also want to check out if his lighting is ok. I have a long neon UVB bulb (4 months installed) and a Daylight bulb, 75 watt and have both of these on during the day. I have a red nighttime bulb (100watt for a few days as they were out of stock on 75watt - but to be changed back to 75 on monday)  I have found it so hard to get the right information about lighting ( have tried purple neodymium bulbs, different wattage, spotlight, tight beam, broad bulbs, etc)


He's about 7 months old, (he?? still don't know if it's male or female? any way of finding out before they mature and show yellow/waxy femoral glands??) or will I have to change his name from Eli to elizabeth??)



ANSWER: Hello Ruth,

What is the humidity running in the tank?
What are the temps in the tank, & what type of thermometer are you using to measure the temps with, a stick on type, a digital probe or a temp gun?
He will need a bright white basking bulb instead of a colored bulb, so the one you are using should be fine.  We need to make sure his temps are optimal.
Constant gaping "can" be a sign of a respiratory infection, or, it can be a sign of overheating as well.
You can gently lift the tail & look to see if there are any lateral bulges on the external portions of the tail, running vertically.  

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your quick reply Tracie,

The humidity was running between 60 - 70, but has been at 90 for the last week or so, I'm misting him twice daily and making sure he has loads of fresh water. Temps are at 30 to 32 during the day and 28 - 30 at night ( but i think the high temp at night is due to the temporary 100watt bulb) It is quite warm weather-wise at the moment, (for Ireland that's a miracle!!)  I use a strip stick on thermometer at the hotter side of the tank.

If there are bulges on his tail does that imply he's male?

Thanks,
Ruth


Answer
Hello Ruth,

So Ireland has been hot lately huh?  I think the weather is just crazy everywhere right now.
Well, the stick on type of thermometers will measure the humidity & the ambient temperatures, but, it will not measure the basking temperatures accurately enough.
I think that your temperatures are warmer than what the stick on is indicating.  Can you get a digital probe or a temp gun?  Water dragons are very sensitive to overheating, & I think that is what is going on.
So you need to try to get those temps measured more accurately as soon as possible.  
The humidity is ok, you could take it to 80% if you want to though, as 90% is pretty high.  
What brand is your UVB tube bulb?  
Well, a female will have a single central bulge on the base at her vent, while a male will not.  There will appear to be 2 separate bulges at the vent, with a central indentation separating the 2 lateral bulges at the vent & on the outside of the underneathside of the tail.  
Is he eating very well?

Tracie