Hi Everyone,

In my rescue colony I have nine males, nine females and one questionmark. I tried to get a clear picture of the problem, but the little guy wasn't happy about the whole situation. I tried to upload the picture I did manage to get but I got an "error 36" message, so I'll try again soon. There is no pouch, but there is a little part sticking out where the pouch should be that almost looks like the boy parts of a juvenille. There are no secondary male characteristics and no testicles. So, is this a neutered male or is this a female with a malformed pouch or ?????


Susan

I'm curious to see the pic but could it maybe be some of the lining of the pouch you're seeing?

No pouch, no female. I think

When Dot was nursing, occasionally what I think was one of the nipples sticking out of the pouch. It didn't look like a juvenile boy joey's parts though.

Did you say that you have another vet visit tomorrow? I am very curious to hear what a vet thinks about this.

With all the inbreeding your guys are the unfortunate result of I'm wndering if something might be possible... Does anyone know if it's possible for a glider to be a hermaphordite? ( and yeah, I know I didn't spell that right.)

You know, my husband and I were talking about these gliders, this glider in particular, last night after I read one of your posts. My husband asked me the same question. I have no idea, but think it definitely could be possible.

Yeah, especially considering you have several generations inbreeding, most likely resulting from only two gliders considering the size of the cage wasn't even suitable for two, let alone a colony.

Either that or it IS one or the other, just with malformed reproductive organs which can happen in all species, including humans.

That's an interesting theory! I wonder if anyone has any experience with something like that?

If it is, then I don't think it's something that has been documented. But if this theory is correct it is the result of an impossible and unnatural situation of extremely tight inbreeding over the course of several + generations. I have a feeling the vets will get very interested in this poor little baby very quickly.

We have been jokingly referring to the little guy as the hermaphrodite, but I suppose an actually hermaphrodite would have both parts as opposed to neither. It's very confusing. I tried again to post a pic, but I still keep getting error 36. It says to contact the administrator. Does anyone know how I do that?

I put the two pics I have on photobucket since I can't post here, but they are not that clear.

s47.photobucket.com/albums/f161/ReallySusan/?action=view¤t=questionablepart.jpg

s47.photobucket.com/albums/f161/ReallySusan/?action=view¤t=questionablepart2.jpg

For an error 36 message it says to contact the administrator. How do I do that?

Thanks!

Susan

Your file may be too large. You need to condense them, or just use the photobucket images as those would have condensed automatically.

And they do have both parts. But sometimes they are incomplete or malformed as a result of the body getting conflicting messages. This can also happen with single sexes with improperly formed reproductive organs. A blood test will be required to determine which it is.

sweetie, the links aren't working. Can you try again?

I could not get to the pics if you could try again, I will check back in later. I'm not sure that even with the pics we will be able to help. It could be a female with part of the pouch out or a neutered or marred male. Keep us posted.

I just spotted your picture. I cannot tell for certain, but think it is a female with part of the pouch prolapsed out.

How'd you do that Mollysmom? I can't open the links at all!

I noticed the picture on the home page, at the side bar. I clicked on it, and it opened up for me.

It worked.

I wonder if this is a result of a self neuter?

Yeah, I would say no pouch, it's a male. It will be interesting went things are updated today. I was thinking the vet check was today, Correct?

The vet didn't go in today so now I have to wait until Sunday.

I did, however, talk to another vet. He *might* be able to help, but he's a vet in private practice so I don't know yet if I'll be able to afford his help unless it's with a *huge* discount.

Susan

This happened to me when I got my female glider. I was told when I rescued her that it was a female however a month later I saw a little bump like yours and I thought "oh no! a boy, another one I am going to have to neuter!!!" and I was pretty upset for a while, since I was wanting a girl but seeing that bump I had convinced myself that it was a boy as that is what happened to my 1st male sugar glider too...the testicles reveal themselves over time. Then I finally got her sleepy one day and got her calm and was able to look very closely and I noticed it was a pouch but that part of it was inverted a little (as mollysmom suggested to you) and her pouch opening looked very tight. I made a vet appointment but before i even went in to see him it resolved itself. She spent some time grooming and it ended up smooth again much to my relief.

I would say a vet visit is in order. Mine got to see the vet during her scheduled appointment and he said she may have been doing some pouch exploration/grooming (maybe of babies?) and the skin had perhaps been a little irritated.

I just can't tell from the pictures if this looked like my gliders situation. The top pic makes it looks like a female/pouch, and the bottom one looks like a boy. I highly doubt this is a gender-neutral glider. Time or a vet visit will tell for sure.

I'll let you all know when I know. We are working with an additional vet who is supposed to be the top glider vet in the world. I am a bit concerned about cost because this is *a lot* of gliders. But he is working with me and he *might* have home for the ones that probably cannot be tamed. So far we have only talked on the telephone.

The problem with seeing the humane society vet is that she is supposed to be there on Wednesdays and Sundays, but this month everything is messed up. So, since now I might not be able to see her until next Wednesday I want to take at least this one in to the other vet.