Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a RTB and I've been calling it a 'he' but I'd like to find out for sure. I've never probed a snake before. I know how it works but I could use some pointers. I had my vet show me once but that was around 3 years ago. I can take it to the vet and have it sexed but it will cost me 41 bucks plus tax to have someone stick a metal rod up my snakes ..... seems kinda expensive.... I'll take my chances on doing it myself - especially since I have more than one I would like to know the sex on. any advice?
Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

Boa constrictors are fairly easy to sex from the spurs, though individuals under three feet long can be difficult. Males have fairly long spurs with a thick claw with a hook at the end. Females have shorter spurs with either a thin, unhooked claw or no claw. Female spurs are often in a pit in the skin, making them difficult to see. Probably 80% or better of boa constrictors can be sexed this way. Looking at the spurs on snakes of known sex helps, too.

Paul Hollander

...a local herp store? There is a local store here that probed a couple of my snakes before I learned to do it myself. The guy charges $5 a pop.
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Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
3.4 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
0.1.0 Tangerine Honduran Milksnake
1.0.0 Honduran Milksnake
0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.1.0 Ball Pythons
0.0.1 Ribbon Snake
1.1.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
0.1.0 Pueblan Milksnake
1.2.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
1.0.0 Western Hognose
1.1.0 Solomon Island Ground Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
1.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (River Road)
0.1.0 Desert Kingsnake
LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
0.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
1.0.0 Turquoise Sunburst Veiled Chameleon
1.0.3 Leopard Geckos
1.1.0 Yellow Niger Uromastyx

I can't believe I didn't think of it earlier. I used to work in a pet store while i was in high school. The owners of the store have the ONE AND ONLY store that I believe can properly sell reptles. They do a fantastic job about who they hire. They hired me for instance b/c I knew my herps. (there was another girl that knew rats and hamsters and things in the like, a guy that knew salt water fish like the back of his hand) ANYWAY- I called her and asked if she still did snake sexing. 4 $. we're going in next week after 2 of my "guys" shed.... hopefully the others dont decide to go blue on me. thanks for reminding me about pet stores!
Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

np
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Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
3.4 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
0.1.0 Tangerine Honduran Milksnake
1.0.0 Honduran Milksnake
0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.1.0 Ball Pythons
0.0.1 Ribbon Snake
1.1.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
0.1.0 Pueblan Milksnake
1.2.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
1.0.0 Western Hognose
1.1.0 Solomon Island Ground Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
1.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (River Road)
0.1.0 Desert Kingsnake
LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
0.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
1.0.0 Turquoise Sunburst Veiled Chameleon
1.0.3 Leopard Geckos
1.1.0 Yellow Niger Uromastyx