Reptile & Amphibian Forums

At what point after a litter is born is it ok to sex babies.??

Just curious.

Thanks.
J.C.

What method are you using to sex them??

I usually wait until their first shed, but have done it right after birth

I will be probing them to determine their sex. What other methods are safer for newborns...other than popping. I normally feel them out to determine...but how easy is that to do with neonates?
thanks.
J.C.

I usually use the thumb and forefinger method when they are real young, then pop them to confirm after they are shed out. Craig

Yeah, I do the same. I just don't like the idea of putting a foreign object into a baby boa just to determine the sex. Especially since it's not necessary.

I dont recomend probing the neonates right away. Its not necessary at all. Popping them is fairly simple but it takes practice. If youre not popping correctly youll think you got all females. It happens to the best of us when youre learning. Just remember to visualize in your mind what it is that youre doing. Theres no need to do it with haste. Just take your time and realize that youre rolling an inverted hemipene to its inside out...or erected state. Arch the backside of the snake over the index finger of one hand exposing the cloaca and use the thumb of your other hand to firmly but carefuly push the hemipene out (from tail end towards the body). I was suprised how firm you actualy have to be to get it popped. Not ruff...just firm and steady.
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Without INTEGRITY and HONESTY what else have you!
Brendan Saffron

Using the thumb and forefinger. Is this not also a for sure way of determining. I mean, is there times when you can't "feel" the males??? I have been able to do this on all of them and have a 5.6 male to female ratio. I'm going to pop them to confirm after they have shed, but is there any doubt to the use of using your thumb and forefinger to feel out it out??

Thanks,.
J.C.

I always use this methods...You will never guess wrong on a male, once you know how to do it, however, rub your females a few days later to be 100%, as males occationally pull their hemipines up, which can lead to a false female. This only happened to me once, and I caught it a few days later. I love this method! So much safer and less stressful than popping/probing.
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Delusions of Grandeur feed the EGO...

I completely agree. There is no question when it comes to feeling out the males...as for the females, i'll do the test a couple times just to be sure.

But not doubt the best and safest method.

Kevin Ivens
BCIexotics