Hello all!
Within the next several years I plan to get my first crested gecko, then a few more, and depending on my animals and my life situation, I may plan to breed them (to be determined).
I just saw a sad youtube video about a gargoyle breeding that went wrong, that left the male with a prolapsed hemipene, and while the surgery was a success, his heart failed under anesthesia and he passed
Some people in the comments were saying this is fairly common as a risk breeding New Caledonia geckos, and that it may even be genetically linked.
If any of you have had similar issues in gargs or cresties:
do you find it is common?
do you find it is more common in one species, genetic line, or morph?
is it generally fatal?
can the risk be reduced by other factors such as a seperate breeding enclosure, different humidity levels, etc?
I donāt want to take youtube comments as fact, so I figured Iād come over here for advice. I certainly donāt need to be breeding these animals if its such a risk for the males, but I want to be informed!
Itās not genetic no, can happen with any morph too, not common but yea can happen. Though touch wood never had it happen here!
A friend of mine had this though, his Lilly white too, went on for a few days and he actually had one of the penes removed! So he has one and is still good to breed though!
Another friends took a day to go back in and all good.
Breeding wise too I always have separate enclosures for males and females, I add the female to the male to breed and take out after a few days.
Given that I just went through a non-breeding related hemipene issue with my leo, Iām on high alert for this stuff, and seeing a poor little garg go through surgery and just not wake up broke my heart.
Would keeping the maleās enclosure a slightly higher humidity help with this at all?
I also saw that a sugar-water bath on the prolapse can help reduce swelling, does this ring true for you? Could be applicable for prolapsed hemipenes AND prolapsed cloacas for the females if yes, so it would be handy knowledge to have in an emergency before the vet visit
This is common practice for ball pythons as well, so I would imagine it could work. Essentially make a slurry with sugar and water. Helps prevent it from drying out and being damaged. I donāt know about cresties so Iāll let Elisha comment on that though
Yes indeedy. I donāt really work with geckos (though I think theyāre adorable! Maybe someday.) but this is something Iāve done with corn snakes. Itās pretty standard across multiple species. My exotics vet advises it, as does my daughter the veterinarian. Sheās used a sugar or honey poultice on many kinds of animals. I used honey in a pinch on a snake once, and it helped but it was more challenging to wipe away than the sugar slurry.
Btw the so-called āmedical honeyā from the feed stores is not necessary. What you put on your toast is just fine.
Iām collecting weird reptile remedies like pokemon out here! I love it, Iāll be so prepped for when Iām eventually ready to adopt. Of course the little buggers will always find a way to hurt themselves in a way outside your expertise, ha!
Thanks for all the info! Hemipenes are so bizarre, if people want to use this thread for either just overall crestie breeding care, or even any-species hemipene maintinence, thatās perfect!
Just make sure to check labels, as some grocery store honeys may not be 100% honey. Look for true source certified.
Also, if you want honey with a little extra healing power to it, Manuka is more expensive but has several compounds that can help prevent infection and speed healing. I buy mine at the grocery store and use veeery sparingly. While Iāve never used it for geckos, it did wonders for spay incisions on one of my snakes.
I havenāt tried sugar water, however I have read it helps. Last year was the first year of breeding my cresties, asā¦ like yourself, I wanted to gather so much info before diving in & be fully ready.
I watched my male like a hawk last year as was so nervous. This year I didnāt see a visual lock, but everything seemed okay.
I get your worries, but there will always be a concern with both males & females as issues could arise for either
I imagine finding that balance is super tricky. You want to make sure everything is fine, but if you hover too much youāll either ruin the changes of breeding or worse increase the risk of stress behaviors, aggression, or someoneās bits getting yanked as someone spooks.
That will probably be the thing Iāll need to keep in check the most. Iāve killed cacti by being too bad at necessary neglect and overwatering them because I want to take care of them
I know this wouldnāt be an issue in snakes and most reptiles tbh, but does anyone notice an issue using honey for medicinal purposes on cresties bc they reach back and lick it off? I know bee pollen is supposedly like hard drugs for them, and Iām not sure if honey is the same way, and if they would leave it alone or if youād just be irritating a wound area by encouraging licking?
Cresties eat honey! I havenāt used it for healing and I wonāt plan to either.
I assume they would lick it off.
Iād also suggest that if using honesty that there be minimal in the enclosure and no substrate, including paper towels. Iāve had many issues of sticky fingers and paper towels. Canāt imagine putting a Gecko though the same issue
but in yes as a quarantine till injury heals