Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have heard that, if you are very lucky and get a perfect shed, you can tell the sex of the snake from the shed by looking at the spur area....is this true?

((I have a leucistic Texas and am curious since he/she just shed))

I wouldn't say it is the most reliable but I have experienced this with a cal king. I never took a pic of this and haven't had that snake for a few years or I would take a pic. When you looked at her shed you could see two small red dots. One on each end of the vent area. She was an albino so her sheds were clear except for the two red dots. I have seen it on a couple of corns as well. However, I would not go by this. Learn how to use probes. It is not as hard as you would think. Go slow, be gentle, use a lubricant, and use a reasonably good quality probe. Also, be aware that most lubricants are also a spermicide or so I have been told. So check the label. I wouldn't probe with that type of lubricant at this time of year if you plan on breeding.

Comparing tail lengths on real snakes or their shedsoften will let you know if it is a male or a female with *reasonable* accuracy. You need something to compare to, though. Plus, the longest tailed cornsnake (close to a ratsnake, of course) I have ever had was a female. It was popped and probed as a female, but I still was never sure it really was until she laid eggs....lol.

The red dot myth is just that - a myth. Sorry, but it isn't completely accurate. Female scent glands can also leave those red dots. People just THINK it is related to hemipenes. Too bad you can't sex them that way, huh? (sigh)

Best bet is to get an experienced breeder to pop or probe the snake for you. Unlike the previous poster, I do NOT recommend you try probing a snake without on-hand instruction for the first time....especially with a snake of unknown sex so you don't know if you are doing ir wrong or just not applying enough pressure.

KJ
KJUN Snakehaven

that what so ever. Probe it or have it probed to be sure. Randy W.

Males seem to have longer tails, hence larger scale counts, than females. But, you have to keep in mind that there is an overlap zone where the counts are meaningless. Probing is the only sure method.

Kathy Love's site has a free video on how to probe a snake.

>>Males seem to have longer tails, hence larger scale counts, than females. But, you have to keep in mind that there is an overlap zone where the counts are meaningless. Probing is the only sure method.
>>
>>

Not to be an ass but popping is acurate. Hatchlings of course
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Jimmy,

I didn't bring up popping because I figured the snake wasn't a hatchling. Kathy Love's site has video on how to do both.

>>Jimmy,
>>
>>I didn't bring up popping because I figured the snake wasn't a hatchling. Kathy Love's site has video on how to do both.
>>

I know
I was just being picky about the only acurate method part.
nothing personal intended!!!
peace?
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

>>I know
>>I was just being picky about the only acurate method part.
>>nothing personal intended!!!
>>peace?

With experience, you can pop yearlings without hurting them fairly easily, too. With many native US colubrids, you can even pop many (not all) adults with a fair amount of accuracy if you've got a "smart enough" thumb.

KJ
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KJUN Snakehaven

Thanks guys

I don't feel comfortable probing myself but will look into finding someone who can - I know a few good snake people.

My guy is about 30 inches long, and 9 of those inches are after the spur mark. Seems pretty long to me, but as you said, I don't have anything to compare it to.

You can find scale count info in the book "Rat Snakes", by Ray Staszko and Jerry G. Walls. 1994. TFH Publishing, Neptune City, NJ.

>>Thanks guys
>>
>>I don't feel comfortable probing myself but will look into finding someone who can - I know a few good snake people.
>>
>>My guy is about 30 inches long, and 9 of those inches are after the spur mark. Seems pretty long to me, but as you said, I don't have anything to compare it to.

get a set of probes of your own.
Find someone who can probe your snake and let them walk you through it.
Also watch Kathy's video. It is great.
Once you do it a few times it is pretty easy.
The probing itself is easier then getting the snake into position and keeping it there....lol
good luck.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Not a shed but see if this will help:
forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=1062426,1062426&key=2006
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Regards, Bill McGighan