First the size thing: There is not always a size difference between male and female, or at least a significant one. At least not all rosy populations. I had a Whitewater male that was every bit as large as any female I had from that area. I had Mexican rosies and the male was longer than the females at about 5yrs of age. Just saying - don't bank on the males being tiny and the females huge in many cases.

Mature males tend to go off feed during breeding season. Pretty normal behavior for a male. Of course I always had females in the same room, so maybe it was that.

Some rosies bite - a feed response. Although I've seen this behavior in males and females, it seems that in my collection, the majority of rosies that did this were female, and mostly in Spring when appetites are hearty. The line of Whitewaters I had were biters, so were some mid-Baja rosies I had and a big Borrego female that would clamp on harder than any snake I've experienced a bite from before. And these were very well-fed snakes, I mean fat.

I like how books paint the picture of rosies being so harmless and docile. All are calm, most will never bite, but these animals are very capable predators on rodents and possess a strength that IMO makes kingsnakes seem like nothing in comparison.

So, take your pick. Id get the rosy that you like regardless of the sex.
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Mark

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