Sperm Plug in a female?

[Black_Shark]

Hey all,

Well. I have quite the conundrum on my hands. My female 1500g, 3 years old, virgin (popped at least 8 times) just shed. After examining her, I noticed that she had some "gooey" stuff coming from her anal slit. She has done this about a month before this (I have a thread on it) where rich said he bets she is a he. Well, I'm starting to believe him because lo and behold, it happened again.

My roommate popped her again (or tried too) and is pretty sure its a female. But we both have no explanation for the "gooey" stuff. Its not an infection because there is no inflammation, swelling, smell, redness, etc etc. She eats like its going out of style (except in shed), sheds perfectly, has gained 600-700g since September 4th (on a small-medium rat once a week up until Jan and has been on twice a month since). This rules our parasites because if it was parasites, and they were that big and visible, then she would be losing drastic weight along with abnormal poop. Neither of which is occuring. In fact, shes consistently gaining weight and pooping.

We've concluded she's either a big ole male or she takes in some aspen when she eats ( I feed her live and before people jump on me, I watch the rat and hold its teeth with tongs. I'm very careful and have betadine with neosporin at the ready in case of mishap) and then it gets semi-digested and comes out.

I'm kinda leaning towards sperm plugs because it sure looks like sperm (yellowish-white... trust me. it looks like sperm) And I plan on getting her probed by a friend of mine asap.

Until then any ideas?

Setup:

80-82 cold side
91 hot side (Flexwatt controlled by Herpstat PRO)
Humidity: generally in the 50's was just 80+ for the shedding process which was completed this morning
41q tub
Paper towel substrate but generally on Aspen
Hot glue used to secure thermometer probe

[llovelace]

Yes have the animal probed to be certain

[Black_Shark]

Yes have the animal probed to be certain

If she is a female, what else could it be?

[llovelace]

Post a pic if it happens again, it would help to identify

[Black_Shark]

Post a pic if it happens again, it would help to identify

Well, speaking as a 21 year old male, it looks ALOT like sperm. Same color, consistency, etc etc. So if you can picture that, you got an image of what I'm looking at.

(No offense meant in any way shape or form)

[j_h_smith]

Well, speaking as a 21 year old male, it looks ALOT like sperm. Same color, consistency, etc etc. So if you can picture that, you got an image of what I'm looking at.

(No offense meant in any way shape or form)

Is it a sperm plug or a gooey mess?

Jim smith

[jsmorphs2]

Sperm plugs are usually partially dried. There are some good pictures on here of sperm plugs that males loose when defecating or shedding (search the breeding forum to see if maybe that is what you're seeing). I've popped males though and gotten a fresh one but they are still semi-solid in texture, never gooey or liquid. Definitely post pictures if it happens again and have it probed to be sure.

[Black_Shark]

Is it a sperm plug or a gooey mess?

Jim smith

more of a gooey mess. I just saw a live sperm plug and its similar but not that similar.

[j_h_smith]

Infection can appear to be sperm. All sperm plugs that I've seen are more solid than liquid. If it looks like an ejaculation, then it's probably not a sperm plug.

I'm not sure, but if it continues, a vet visit may be in order. If it's an infection, you may have to work with the vet (usually means a lot of money) to find out the cause.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

[Black_Shark]

Infection can appear to be sperm. All sperm plugs that I've seen are more solid than liquid. If it looks like an ejaculation, then it's probably not a sperm plug.

I'm not sure, but if it continues, a vet visit may be in order. If it's an infection, you may have to work with the vet (usually means a lot of money) to find out the cause.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

Thank you but this is not an infectionious discharge aka pus. It happened around a month ago also and in that time, it has not A) Shown any signs of inflammation B) Shown any signs of infection (smell, redness, discoloration etc etc. and C) It does not look like pus nor does it have the same consistency as pus. This is a yellowish/whitish goo in very small amounts.

Her anal slit also looks completely healthy her stools are also healthy.

She has just shed (this morning) so were thinking its either wet shed or semi-disgested aspen.

Edit: Also since that time she was given a Betadine bath along with being kept on paper towels changed every 3 days.

Edit 2: After searching for sperm plugs, I came upon on interesting post that Rabernet posted back in 2010

"Females also secrete some fluids that dry and can be mistaken for sperm plugs, but they do look a little different. I picked up an adult female that another member here passed on at a local pet store, because he thought he popped out some sperm plugs. She went on to lay 11 eggs the next season. "

Possibility? Remember, the gooey stuff was IN her anal slit and had not fallen out, etc etc. I removed it with tweezers and it was not visible normally unless one pulled the tail back and opened the vent.