Just trying to see if any experienced herpers will supply an estimate or “best guess” that may help me.

I know that the only sure way to determine snake gender is to probe. With colubrids, you generally can determine sex by looking at the vent-to-tail area from the side:

Males tend to have longer tails that taper evenly.

Females tend to have shorter tails that abruptly drop-off just past the vent.

My Pacific Gopher is wild caught, has been in captivity at least 1.5 to 2 years. Based on what I was told by the prior owner, my guess is that it is 3-5 years old. It is very slim bodied.

Prior owner assumed that it is a male, but looking at the vent I see a very abrupt taper, with no obvious bulge at the vent. However, there is a slight bulge about an inch below the vent, and tail length is at least six or seven inches long.

Advanced herpers - what is your guess for:

1. Age?
2. Gender?

?.? Pituophis catenifer catenifer
0.1 Pantherophis guttatus (Carolina)
1.0 Elaphe schrencki

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