Stuck sperm plugs - help Plz -

Hello. So I have a male cristatus " Mr Maliki " and he has had some issues with his speem ifs they seem to be stuck or impacted I guess. I had noticed his base getting rather large and was hoping he would drop them on his own, but no luck.
So today I have him a nice long shower and them tried to help get them out. I gently pushed towards the vent from the tail base and then opened the vent a bit. I was able to get out a bit with tweezers and my fingers but there is still a lot there. I decided to stop when he seemed to be getting very stressed and finally bite me.
I am looking for ideas to help loosen it up enough for either him push them out or me get them out with bothering him too much.
Also what is the risk of retained sperm plugs? Has anyone else has a similar issue?
Thank you in advance
Hoj

Sorry first sentence should be problems with his sperm plugs.
I'm on my phone and tapatalk doesn't let me edit.

I would leave it at least for a day or 2 and if it still doesn't come out I would pull on it slowly very slowly and it should be able to come out .use some tweezers. Same thing happened to 1 of my Panthers. I put a lil vaseline then pulled gently . If that doesn't work I would recommend a vet.

I think I would try a warm water bath (shallow water, you right there) rather than a shower. That way the warm water might work its way into the vent and start softening things up.

I think I would try the warm water, then a bit of ky jelly. After that it is your fingers or tweezers. Good luck, let me know now it "works out"

Heres a story,


When I got my first chameleon he died.

I got my second chameleon I gave her away and owner killed her.


I got my third cham a boy veiled Rex and I he lived. Hes 2 years old and never in my life would I have thought I would be pulling out sperm slugs. Now my boy leaves them all over the darn place and when I cleaned his cage I wiped the bottom to find about 20+ slugs I might be over exagerating but . . . In the end we all pull sperm slugs out one way or another but use tweezers never your fingers that was a little dirty

chameleoman said:

Heres a story,


When I got my first chameleon he died.

I got my second chameleon I gave her away and owner killed her.


I got my third cham a boy veiled Rex and I he lived. Hes 2 years old and never in my life would I have thought I would be pulling out sperm slugs. Now my boy leaves them all over the darn place and when I cleaned his cage I wiped the bottom to find about 20+ slugs I might be over exagerating but . . . In the end we all pull sperm slugs out one way or another but use tweezers never your fingers that was a little dirty

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Ive been keeping chams since 2002 and I have never pulled a sperm plug out of any of my males. I have never had a problem because I didnt do it either.

So I guess the one big issue is I can get them exposed and try to grab at them with the tweezers but they are quite soft and I cant really get it to stay together to pull out. Kinda like real soft wax or nasty ear wax.
Also he seems a little sore after yesterday I'm im not sure if I should try again today or give him a day or so to rest. I don't want it to get any worse.
Also I am wondering if I should wrap him in a towel and just go for it. Or keep trying with him just in my hand.
I don't know what way is easier on him.

Have you tried holding him in a shallow warm water bath?

It may also help to increase his water intake.

And a trip to the vet may be the thing to do, if he remains unable to naturally pass them - I wouldnt be poking around myself, especially internally. But if you do so, at least ensure the tweezers are steralized first.

jaglon53 said:

Ive been keeping chams since 2002 and I have never pulled a sperm plug out of any of my males. I have never had a problem because I didnt do it either.

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neither have I. They should be easily passed without assistance.

Thx this is the only Cham who seems to ever have issues with them. And he has had this issue before. He was with another keeper and they removed so very large ones.

He has had this issue before and they were removed by another keeper as he was with them for a bit.
None of my other Chams have ever had this problem.
Anything I could add to the water to improve the help. Like mineral oil or sumthing?

Urrggh sorry phone and tapatalk said the first MSG failed.

Yeah, this guy gets big, thick plugs that are a little more challenging to remove than the normal slender ones. Quite impressive really:



There may be some bruising from your attempts so I would be inclined to let him be for a few days or a week to let him heal up a little and then try again after some lengthy soaking. I think generally increasing his water intake will be beneficial and a vet may be warranted for removal. Perhaps a quick PM to one of our resident vets will give you some pros and cons about leaving them in longterm.

Hoj said:

He has had this issue before and they were removed by another keeper as he was with them for a bit.

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I wonder if having this problem once makes him prone to them ongoing (or if he is perhaps just afflicted with a physical imperfection that causes it?

fingers crossed for you hoping you can resolve it soon and that there is no long term consequence

Trace said:

Yeah, this guy gets big, thick plugs that are a little more challenging to remove than the normal slender ones. Quite impressive really..."

Click to expand...

yikes those look like they built up for awhile? must be uncomfortable for those guys

Those plugs look positively evil! I am so glad that Monty leaves little crusties on his branches after seeing that pic!

I hope you can help your boy, Hoj, I remember reading that it can make them quite grumpy.

lol

after reading this thread i dont think im hungry for lunch anymore... and then that picture lol
i would recommend the ky jelly approach followed by some kenny g music and a few candles

Damnnnn!! Those are some huge plugs!!!

Hi yea i just had the same problem not too long ago. Here is a link of the posts that got me threw it. https://www.chameleonforums.com/stuck-poop-79409/

Warm water bath + shower, ky jelly, and tweezers. Make sure not to break the plug otherwise it will be much harder to remove.