BP scratching? :/

My 5 month old BP has been from what it seems like, scratching his head on his water bowl. He keeps putting his head sideways and sliding his head along the water bowl, is this normal? or is something wrong? :S

There could be a number of reasons for this behavior:

1. He's starting a shed and trying to break the skin around his face
2. He has a respiratory infection and is trying to swipe the mucus out of his mouth
3. He's got something lodged in his mouth and is trying to get it out (aspen or bark bedding is most likely if this is the scenario)
4. He has mites and they are irritating his mouth and/or eye

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JLC

There could be a number of reasons for this behavior:

1. He's starting a shed and trying to break the skin around his face
2. He has a respiratory infection and is trying to swipe the mucus out of his mouth
3. He's got something lodged in his mouth and is trying to get it out (aspen or bark bedding is most likely if this is the scenario)
4. He has mites and they are irritating his mouth and/or eye

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I know he isnt going into shed because his eyes are still crystal clear and his scales are very clear to.

I havnt been hearing any popping or wheezing noises plus I checked for any mucus on his vents/face and didnt see anything.

I use newspaper as a substrate and try to keep any small loose things away from my BP.

I checked for mites under his jaw and around his eyes and down his body but didnt see anything :/

could there be any other reasons? :S

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lyoto

I know he isnt going into shed because his eyes are still crystal clear and his scales are very clear to.

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At the time that they actually begin sloughing off their skin, their eyes are clear and the scales look pretty normal. The "blue" phase they go through only lasts a day or two and clears up several days before the actual shed. It can be missed.

If it's not a shed...and not any of the other reasons...then maybe it's just a random movement that looks deliberate? I dunno.

They don't have arms. Looks like he found a way to scratch his head :p