Uroplatus sikorae: Everted Hemipenes?

pakinjak · #1 07-10-2011, 11:06 PM

Anybody have any wisdom on getting them back in? I've got a sikorae male that has had them stuck out for at least two days. I've tried the sugar water soak, but they're not back in yet.

miguel camacho! · #2 07-11-2011, 12:03 AM

There may be a more serious issue at hand. Your best bet since the easy route didn't work is a check-up at the vet. If it's been hanging out for two days, chances are there's no easy do-it-yourself fix.

jadrig · #3 07-11-2011, 02:09 AM

Yeah, theres actually a pic of my old male sikorae in my photo album with that problem. They do have access to it if there was a problem...licking/biting. I dont think that there is anything that you or/especially a vet could do. If you leave him alone, he will definitely be fine...Im not positive about his hemepene though...The safest thing you can do for him is isolate him...especially if he is housed with another male. Other males can/will bite at a hemepene...and possibly a female will bite it. I know that when they get excited, they let it hang out...and sometimes it takes a while to go back...

pakinjak · #4 07-11-2011, 07:08 AM

Any idea what a vet might do for this that I can't? I don't have a scientific background and am learning as I go

Supposedly, the vet I go to is good with exotics, but ball pythons and parrots are one thing... I don't trust anybody to know anything about my leaftails. I don't mind taking him if it's beneficial, but taking time off work and spending money for them to tell me to soak him twice a day isn't my idea of a good time.

D.B.Johnson · #5 07-11-2011, 11:48 AM

To the best of my knowledge, if the hemis are out too long, the tissue will begin to die/blacken/harden/dry. I have seen this on a leopard gecko before. Once you pass a certain point, the only solution medically is amputation. I would personally consider putting something like neosporin or vaseline or ky or something on the exposed organ to prevent dessication. You may be able to massage them back into place yourself, although I imagine your gecko will not enjoy that. The gecko might survive alright without treatment, but the hemipenes will not survive the exposure. It'd be great if they went back in on their own, but I wouldn't spend time waiting for that to happen. Good luck with your gecko.

pakinjak · #6 07-11-2011, 01:22 PM

Well, I just noticed the other night, gave him a day to pull them back in himself, soaked him in sugar water for a while yesterday and I'm soaking him now. I'm gonna up the soaking and see if that helps.

I'm not above trying to massage them back in myself, and will certainly try that if the water seems to be fruitless.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel the only thing taking him to a vet will do is produce a eunuch. As long I keep them moist, I feel like I've got some time to work on him.

I'll update as things progress along.

jadrig · #7 07-11-2011, 02:31 PM

yeah, me, personally, cannot think of any reason to take any of my Uroplatus to the vet. Now there are certain specialists around the country that are well accomplished with reptiles/geckos...but more often than not, it would probably be the first time they have ever seen the species.

If you use the KY...make sure you use the for him. J/K

pakinjak · #8 07-11-2011, 02:37 PM

So...

I tried another soak, and then when he was all lubed up and annoyed I tried "massaging them back into place". Yeah, he didn't like that. Between him and his mate "Professor Umbridge", I have now been bitten 1200% more by U. Sikorae than by any other animal, including mosquitoes.

So I put some lube on his nards and slid him back in the tank. I might try soaking him again, but I don't know how much good it'll do it if he's got vaseline on them.

miguel camacho! · #9 07-11-2011, 10:41 PM

The main reason to take it to the vet: to get some understanding if there are underlying issues that caused the hemipenes to prolapse in the first place. If you choose to ignore the problem and let it be, I don't think that you can assure him that the gecko will "definitely be fine." Choosing to ignore the problems that manifested in prolapsed hemipenes and just let it be is definitely not the safest option to consider...but maybe that's just my opinion.

pakinjak · #10 07-11-2011, 10:56 PM

Eh, maybe I'll take him in then. In general, I'm with Joe... I just don't trust the average vet to know a dern thing about these guys, and I think I'm wasting time and money. I have no idea what they could possibly tell me BUT since it doesn't seem I'm getting those hemipenes back in on my own, I'll give it a shot.