Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok so I have a litter of baby BRB's, a probe set, and a makeshift clear tube for holding them. What is the best way to go about sexing the snakes. I was taught how to do it properly on snakes a little bigger.
-----
1.1 Motley het butter corns
0.1 Snow corn
0.1 Okeetee corn
1.0 Anery mutt corn
0.1 Stripe Ghost corn
0.1 Amelanistic corn het carmel
2.1 Colombian Redtails
1.0 Hypo Colombian redtail
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.0 Anery Kenyan sand boa
0.1 Normal Kenyan sand boa

I'm a little embarrassed to say that I own a set of snake probes but have never learned to use them.

The way I sex baby BRBs is to run my thumb and index, ring or pinky finger down their spine and belly (thumb on the spine, other finger on the belly). I start approximately 5 ventral scales above (anterior to) the vent. I apply firm, but consistent pressure past the vent. If the animal is a male, then anywhere from 5 to 8 scales past the vent, you will feel two bumps as your finger comes to the end of the hemipenes. In females, you will not feel this. It takes a little practice but this method can be used to accurately sex baby BRBs the day they are born. You may want to practice on an adult male and female to get the feel for it first.

Interestingly enough, this method cannot be used with all snakes. I have not been able to do it with chondros of any age.
-----
Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

The thumb and finger method is best. It's easiest to learn and it doesn't pose the health threats that messing up a probing does.

Definitely easiest to learn on a pair of larger BRB's but I was able to pick it up from mine when they were only about a year old.

Besides it doesn't bother the snake nearly as much as restraining them for probing.

Sean.

I am very proficient at probing all snakes, but for the life of me, can never feel anything while doing what you describe and when it comes to palpating females for follicles, well, I completely SUCK at that all around with ALL species. If I haven't gotten it by now, another 20 years aint gunna help. But, thankly, my ineptness in these areas has not interfered with my success at propagating the snakes I work with. One of my friends is like, can't you feel it, like little beads? Ummmm no! lol
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

I am very accurate / adept in regards to "popping" neonatal snakes. Practice makes perfect was my approach to this, but I also probe all snakes to double check. I have never as of yet damaged any snakes in this process. Careful digital probing is harmless if done correctly. I used to love wild caught blood pythons, no need to probe, they just stick em out lol. I have however noticed this ( popping ) is a little tougher in boas and pythons then colubrids. Under NO circumstances should any sub adult or adult snake be popped, this is EXTREMLY dangerous after the snakes have gained some musculature control. In neonates the musculature is not that well developed yet. But pythons and boas have stronger musculature then colubrids even when they are neonates. I have never used popping when sexing neonate Brazilians ( only have had 2 litters in my life), I used gentle probing instead.
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

I also agree, this is the best method and 100% accurate for males (>90% accurate for females). It also works on other Boa species, But I cannot do it on Python, Liasis, or Morelia.

good luck and practice makes perfect...
BHH