Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I placed a new breeder pair of cresties together today - 1 year old virgin male and an at least 3 year old proven female. The male happily bred her immediately while I watched, and afterwards his hemipene did not retract. I gave him 30 minutes, got uncomfortable with the situation, and assisted with a sugar water soak. This had no effect, so I got some lube and gently placed it back inside myself. I've had this happen to leopards geckos, and several of my males have had to have amputations over the years, and I wanted to avoid that with this crestie. Well, the little guy just bred her again, and once again, 20 minutes later, hemipene is still out. So do crested hemipenes just normally remain out a long time (never noticed this problem on any of my other males), or is this guy just not going to be a breeder? I'm going to give him a few more minutes, then assist again, because there's no reptile vet open tomorrow to do an amputation. Anyone (Anthony???) run into this issue before? Thanks!
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Inhabitants of the reptile room:
Leopard geckos, pictus geckos, crested geckos, african fat-tails, Paroedura bastardi bastardi, a velvet gecko, Henkel's Leaf Tails, Bibron's geckos, Corn snakes, Ball Pythons, Honduran milks, a single Taiwan Beauty, Leucistic Texas Rats, Solomon Island Tree Boas, a pair of Mali Uromastyx, an Amazon tree boa, baby Hatian tree boas, a single female circleback Colombian red-tail...

I've never had a crested with a hemipenile prolapse...or if I have, I never knew about it.

One of the regulars hear just recently had a male prolapse, so she might be able to help out here and share her experience.

I know with snakes, sugar water treatment can go on for a couple days. Try that before you take such drastic measures (like amputation). Coming from a guy, trust me...your gecko will appreciate it.

If that doesn't work, take the animal to a qualified reptile vet.

Once the problem is remedied, I'd keep him away from the female for a good month or two.

-Anthony

>>I placed a new breeder pair of cresties together today - 1 year old virgin male and an at least 3 year old proven female. The male happily bred her immediately while I watched, and afterwards his hemipene did not retract. I gave him 30 minutes, got uncomfortable with the situation, and assisted with a sugar water soak. This had no effect, so I got some lube and gently placed it back inside myself. I've had this happen to leopards geckos, and several of my males have had to have amputations over the years, and I wanted to avoid that with this crestie. Well, the little guy just bred her again, and once again, 20 minutes later, hemipene is still out. So do crested hemipenes just normally remain out a long time (never noticed this problem on any of my other males), or is this guy just not going to be a breeder? I'm going to give him a few more minutes, then assist again, because there's no reptile vet open tomorrow to do an amputation. Anyone (Anthony???) run into this issue before? Thanks!
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>>Inhabitants of the reptile room:
>>Leopard geckos, pictus geckos, crested geckos, african fat-tails, Paroedura bastardi bastardi, a velvet gecko, Henkel's Leaf Tails, Bibron's geckos, Corn snakes, Ball Pythons, Honduran milks, a single Taiwan Beauty, Leucistic Texas Rats, Solomon Island Tree Boas, a pair of Mali Uromastyx, an Amazon tree boa, baby Hatian tree boas, a single female circleback Colombian red-tail...
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Anthony Caponetto
www.ACreptiles.com

If you are able to tuck his goodies back where they belong, you're a better man or woman than I am. What lubricant do you use in case I ever get that brave, K-Y jelly? I have had my fluorescent orange male Popcorn prolapse twice now, the last time it was his left hemipenis, and they had to amputate since the muscle that is supposed to retract it had torn. This time it was his only remaining one, his right, and I begged them at the UW Vet teaching hospital to please save it if they could. In retrospect, since I will be terrified to breed him anymore, maybe I shouldn't have begged so hard. But it's back in, sutured in for the time being, and as Anthony counsels, I was told to keep him separated from any other geckos for 1-2 months. Robbie Hamper emailed me that it can take DAYS for the sugar water treatment to work, so if you go that route, be patient. I guess once he's totally healed next spring, I may let a lady stay only overnight with him and make sure all is well in the morning. I wanted him to have the best life I could provide, but maybe living full-time with his lady was encouraging him to out-do himself! She does, however, look gravid at last! The first male I had her with (all summer) did not seem up to the task. Good luck and please let us know how it goes.
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Terri
4:8:7 crested geckos: Popcorn, Goldfish, Harley, Bear, Big Red, Olive, Smudge, Blackie, Belle, Brilliant, Tina, Brick, Toni(y), Kermit, ChiliPepper, Spot, WildFire, WildSpatter & Randy(i)