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what exactly is open mouth breathing. i keep seeing it happns when they are sick. my turtle might do that, im not sure though. when i pick him up he lifts his head and opens his mouth. he just keeps doing it over and over. im assuming thats what open mouth breathing is. is there anything i can do for him or do i have to take him to a vet?

Sometimes they open their mouth when you pick them up to hiss or to try and bite you.. which is totally different than open mouth breathing. I believe, but I could be wrong since I've never had a sick turtle *knocking on wood* that it's more like a repeated yawn and gasping for air sort of thing. Do you see him doing it while he's basking or in the water? Does he have any other symptoms of RI? like bubbles coming from his nose.. swollen eyes etc?? If he does, then you should get him to a vet ASAP.

Think of slow panting without the noise and the mouth open.

I know when I pick one of my res up that she opens her mouth, tucks her head in and hisses. It's just because she wants me to put her down.

Don't worry unless you see him breathing with his mouth open a lot while basking or while surfacing for air.