My apologies, sorry if I offended anyone, but I must clear up a few things:



1)At no point in time did I claim that I was an expert, or even better than any of you guys, just that I'm not a dummy when it comes to kingsnakes.



2)I did not say I had worked side by side with the best in the business, I said ONE of the best.



3)I did not say I didn't know how to probe snakes, been doing it for a long time. I said I sucked at popping, and that includes babies...for some reason I'm just not good at it. That's why I opt to probe babies as well as adults. Nor was I asking HOW to sex a snake, just you guys' opinions on what could be up with this one since I personally never had this type of problem before. When I thanked Chris H for the picture that was in earnest, as most of my books are packed away in storage at the moment, and it was a refresher to know I still remembered that correctly. As I said, the snake does indeed LOOK like a femme from the outside. No muscular tail here.



4)I have been doing this for 18, almost 19 years. I did not say I had been doing it longer than ALL people here, I said MOST, and that is probably a fact. I am certainly NOT looking to win any contest...geez! Nor did I ask for any deference, nor do I expect any, but a little respect would be nice. Those of you who have been doing this longer, and may be degreed biologists, that is awesome, and I defer to you any day...just don't be so lordly with your responses sometimes!



Once again I apologize, maybe it is me who needs a swift kick in the cloaca...but you guys have no idea how frustrated this has me, and I guess some of your responses just rubbed me the wrong way. On top of it I am 3 1/2 months pregnant with my 3rd child, I tend to get pissy very easily these days, and although it's no excuse it sure doesn't help. I am sorry.

I have heard of this, but have never personally experienced it. I have indeed probed and sexed a male snake as female before due to sperm plugs, lol, felt like a dummy for that I tell ya. But I don't think this is the case here as this snake probed as female for me a little over a year ago, and the breeder/seller popped as well as probed and said it was female also.

Anyways, if you're still interested: The snake probes to a depth of 4 scales on the right side. It probes to a depth of 8 scales on the left. I have never had a female probe any more than 4-5 scales, nor have I had a male probe less than 8, it's usually alot deeper even.

The reason I have asked you guys is because although I do know of one good herp vet within a 2 hour drive, I would prefer not to have to take it there just for a sexing. My friend and mentor is away on a rattlesnake census out of state at the moment, and the only other person in the area who I trusted to give me a proper second opinion unfortunately can not probe snakes anymore due to losing most of the use and sesitivity in his hands in a serious car crash last year.

I am reallystarting to chalk it up to a punched-through female, although as I said I've never seen a drop of blood and up until when I discovered this 2 months ago. I had probed the snake twice, once at purchase and once shortly after arrival just for confirmation to myself over a year ago. It looks like a female in the tail, and to me, it looks like a female in the face. I have even asked the snake to give me a sign, but it sniffed my nose and wound it's way up under my glasses instead. It is a very healthy snake, great attitude, great eater, and if all goes well should be a great breeder (male or female) come next year. When I find out for sure what it is I will let you know.

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