sperm plugs

[Neumann]

This morning, and to my surprise, I found a sperm plug in our royals cage. He's only 10 or 11 months old, under 500 grams and about 28-29 inches long so I found this quite surprising.

Is it common in such a young male and is this the prelude to sexual maturity or is this an actual indication of sexual maturation? Also, now that the boy's got the goods in the barrels, does it mean that he will start to get the fever for the wiggle? If so, do I need to change my husandry in any way?

Thanks,
Jason

[Adam_Wysocki]

This morning, and to my surprise, I found a sperm plug in our royals cage.

Are you sure it was a sperm plug? Was it attached to a shed? Just asking because it's not very common to just "find them" laying around. They are usually stuck "in there" pretty good.

Is it common in such a young male and is this the prelude to sexual maturity or is this an actual indication of sexual maturation?

I had a 315 gram male produce sperm this year at about 5 months old. It's not uncommon at all. The problem with younger males at lower weights is that they are more prone to physical wear from being bred. Males will breed themselves to death if you let them, and young males have less "beef" on them to help them stay strong. I don't really like breeding younger males, but if you do, give them lots and lots of rest in between females and watch them closely for signs of illness. I know a bunch of people that have lost very high-end animals from over breeding them at a young age.

Also, now that the boy's got the goods in the barrels, does it mean that he will start to get the fever for the wiggle? If so, do I need to change my husandry in any way?

If you don't plan on breeding him at this point, don't change a thing. Sometimes once males start producing sperm, they lose interest in eating for a while. They'd much rather be with females than eat. As long as you keep your temps up and keep him away from females, he should be fine.

Hope this helps.

-adam

[Neumann]

Hi Adam,

I'll post a pic tonight, but yes, I'm pretty sure it's a sperm plug based on other pics I've seen.

I've been out of town for a few weeks and when I returned it had been 7 weeks since before he poo'd. I figured he would poo while I was gone (during his next shed). Anyway he shed while I was away but did not poo so I soaked him last night for about 25 minutes and he cut loose. Afterward I noticed he appeared to have some sort of prolapse (sp?). I've never examined a cloaca after a crap before so I put him back in his cage and checked him this morning. If it was a hemipene, it had receeded back into his cloaca over night. After checking him I noticed the spem plug stuck to the top of his terracotta hide. I picked it off and photographed it.

If it was a hemipene sticking out, could that have caused him to release a sperm plug?

-Jason

[Adam_Wysocki]

If it was a hemipene sticking out, could that have caused him to release a sperm plug?

Sure ... either that or just the act of defication itself.

I just meant that sperm plugs don't "fall out" of a ball python that crawling around the cage. Makes sense now!

-adam