Male Bearded Dragon Stuck Femoral Secretions

[Mr.Burnt]

Hello. I am having trouble removing my 2 1/2 year-old male bearded dragon's femoral secretions. His pores seem large (I have another male bearded dragon whose pores are not as big, nor are they clogged) and they are very hard but they are not protruding out, as most do, because they are very flat. I have tried soaking him for 30-minutes to an hour in warm water and then gently to slightly harshly rubbing him with a tooth brush twice a day for several days in a row. I even tried squeezing them gently, but nothing is coming out and they are staying the same (flat and hard). First of all, are they even an issue? It has been over 6 months (with me periodically trying the soaking-scrubbing thing) and they do not seem to be causing him any problems (no swelling, bleeding, etc.). If they are an issue, how do I remove the secretions/unclog the pores without causing him harm?

Tank: I upgraded him into a bioactive habitat with a false bottom over six months ago (I used to have him on reptile carpet, which I hate), with Australian sand and eco earth dirt, a bromeliad and aloe vera in a 40 gallon tank. Temperatures range from 110 F on hot-spot on branch to 73 F on cool end. He has a heat bulb, uvb tube-bulb t5 10.0 and a uva bulb (for the plants). Humidity is at 30-40%. I know the tank size is far too small for a bearded dragon, but I have no money or space at the moment, and he is a small dragon for his age and he is very lazy. My other male bearded dragon is in a 4'x2'x2' cage because he moves around a lot.

Diet: I feed my dragons kale, collard greens, dandelions (the leaves and flowers), mustard greens, spinach (very rarely), carrots, squash, peppers, pumpkin (rarely), other greens, clover, some fruits, dubia roaches usually with added calcium powder and rarely other insects (meal worms, horn worms, etc.).

Anyway, here are some pictures and I appreciate any help!

 

[Sadie]

Hello. I am having trouble removing my 2 1/2 year-old male bearded dragon's femoral secretions. His pores seem large (I have another male bearded dragon whose pores are not as big, nor are they clogged) and they are very hard but they are not protruding out, as most do, because they are very flat. I have tried soaking him for 30-minutes to an hour in warm water and then gently to slightly harshly rubbing him with a tooth brush twice a day for several days in a row. I even tried squeezing them gently, but nothing is coming out and they are staying the same (flat and hard). First of all, are they even an issue? It has been over 6 months (with me periodically trying the soaking-scrubbing thing) and they do not seem to be causing him any problems (no swelling, bleeding, etc.). If they are an issue, how do I remove the secretions/unclog the pores without causing him harm?

Tank: I upgraded him into a bioactive habitat with a false bottom over six months ago (I used to have him on reptile carpet, which I hate), with Australian sand and eco earth dirt, a bromeliad and aloe vera in a 40 gallon tank. Temperatures range from 110 F on hot-spot on branch to 73 F on cool end. He has a heat bulb, uvb tube-bulb t5 10.0 and a uva bulb (for the plants). Humidity is at 30-40%. I know the tank size is far too small for a bearded dragon, but I have no money or space at the moment, and he is a small dragon for his age and he is very lazy. My other male bearded dragon is in a 4'x2'x2' cage because he moves around a lot.

Diet: I feed my dragons kale, collard greens, dandelions (the leaves and flowers), mustard greens, spinach (very rarely), carrots, squash, peppers, pumpkin (rarely), other greens, clover, some fruits, dubia roaches usually with added calcium powder and rarely other insects (meal worms, horn worms, etc.).

Anyway, here are some pictures and I appreciate any help!
View attachment 37204
View attachment 37203
View attachment 37202

This dragon may be female- can you post a pic of her on a table tail in the air vent facing the camera

 

[Mr.Burnt]

This dragon may be female- can you post a pic of her on a table tail in the air vent facing the camera

Sure. I'm pretty sure he's a male, though, as I see what looks like hemipenes when I put a flash light behind his tail. His breeder said that his father was small, and he is a dunner, so maybe that is why he's small (if that is why you thought he was a female?)? I could be wrong about his gender, however, as he does act more like a female--I have never seen him head-bob for example, and when my other, larger male bearded dragon (the stereotypical male dragon) sees him, he goes crazy and head-bobs, while my smaller male thinks my larger male is food... I have to make sure my smaller male's cage is covered whenever I let my larger male out.
Anyway, what do you think?

 

[Sadie]

Sure. I'm pretty sure he's a male, though, as I see what looks like hemipenes when I put a flash light behind his tail. His breeder said that his father was small, and he is a dunner, so maybe that is why he's small (if that is why you thought he was a female?)? I could be wrong about his gender, however, as he does act more like a female--I have never seen him head-bob for example, and when my other, larger male bearded dragon (the stereotypical male dragon) sees him, he goes crazy and head-bobs, while my smaller male thinks my larger male is food... I have to make sure my smaller male's cage is covered whenever I let my larger male out.
Anyway, what do you think?
View attachment 37216
View attachment 37215

I see flat above the vet meaning girl so w/ that said I am gonna have someone take a look thats got a better eye than I do -- will get back w/ you

 

[Sadie]

I see flat above the vet meaning girl so w/ that said I am gonna have someone take a look thats got a better eye than I do -- will get back w/ you

here is her response
It's a male. You can see the bulges slightly but the flashlight shows them definitely.
Also, the femoral pores are fine, some males just have wider holes than others. No need for soaking and scrubbing but make sure there are some rocks and other rough decor he can keep the pores filed down like they are. All the soaking will be stressful to any beardie.

 

[Mr.Burnt]

here is her response
It's a male. You can see the bulges slightly but the flashlight shows them definitely.
Also, the femoral pores are fine, some males just have wider holes than others. No need for soaking and scrubbing but make sure there are some rocks and other rough decor he can keep the pores filed down like they are. All the soaking will be stressful to any beardie.

Alright. That's a relief. I'm glad he's alright (and a "he." It's really weird seeing an animal as one gender for so long but then figuring out that its the other...). Thanks for the help, Sadie!

 

[Sadie]

Alright. That's a relief. I'm glad he's alright (and a "he." It's really weird seeing an animal as one gender for so long but then figuring out that its the other...). Thanks for the help, Sadie!

Just don't let your males see each other- it will really stress them out -- and do not ever let them be together ever- one will kill the other