My 3 month old red tegu seems very healthy, eats A LOT, and is very large for his age. Whenever he sticks his tounge out to sense for food or if I'm cleaning his cage out it sounds like hes exhaling heavily. Should I be worried or is this normal?

I know little of Tegus, but if he is only doing it at those times I would not worry. If his breathing does that on a constant basis I would be concerned.

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

Okay thank you. I'm thinking it's just his/her way of breathing, because he/she is a TANK! Lol I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a URI because I own 2 panther chams and the immediate sign of a URI is heavy, crackling breathing. The tegu's breathing isn't crackling its just making a different sound.

Is it like a huffing hissing noise? My blue tongues would sniff something and then huff and puff a little bit if they didn't like what they were smelling.

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Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it.

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Tegus will often huff and hiss when you displease them.
As long as there is no discharge or a bubbling,gurgling there's no need to worry.
How do you have his enclosure set up?

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

Yea that explains it about the "displeasing it" it happens a lot when I take him out to feed in his container. And when I go near his hide when cleaning. I have him in a 50 gallon tank, mulch x dirt x topsoil x play sand as a substrate, basking 113, gradient 90's cool side 81, uvb fluorescent tube, humidity about 50 percent. No night lights, its not unhealthy in the ways everyone described it, he's just getting used to me I think. but I'll keep everyone updated.

It's one of two things.

If he's arching his back to look bigger shaking or making his tail into squiggles it's a low level warning.

If his tongue is going a mile a minute and it seems semi regular maybe with head movement he's forcing air through his nose to try and catch a good scent. It's what my tegu does to my hands if I've touched a fish or mouse and forgot to wash with soap.

p.s. Humidity is too low at 50% same problem I have.

Cut a hole in the side of a tupperware storage bin, fill with moist cypress mulch and keep semi warm. That's a 90-100% humid hide. Your red will love it, I guarantee. Plus reds need humidity more than b/w's cause of their shedding issues.

It sounds more like the displeased sound, I agree. Occaisionally my Tegu will have an issue that is different and it will be a breathing issue from shed caught in her nostrils. The ig and Savannah actually have more problems with nostril shed getting caught than the Tegu. But I agree it sounds like you are dealing with displeasure.

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Kat