Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all!
I bought this ball as a female by one very know breeder here but i had some doubts redarding it's sex bacause it has large spurs and typical "male" tail. It's not good eater, it's accepting a rat every 20 days or so. I probed it and it was a bit strange, probe entered very easily as shown in the following video but not in the same depth as my breeder males. In my opinion it is a male... what you think about that?
Plase help me, im a bit concerned.

Flavio

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0rmphqJnog

Looks pretty deep for a female. How deep is the other side?

it's almost the same in the other side.
I forgot to say that it's almost 500 grams and was born in may 2007.
Thank you for help!

Mistakes can happen. Contact the person you got the snake from.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

9 scales deep.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I have seen adult males probe four scales deep. But when popped evert very small but very obvious hemipenes. The animal went onto prove out.

We collectively are looking at a VERY large sample and are bound to report variation. We cannot go by a rule "males probe 9 scales deep". While this is normal it is not set in stone.

Where does the original poster live? If local to me I can have a looksee so you can know 100% the gender of the animal.

>>9 scales deep.
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>>Jay A. Martin
>>Jay Martin Reptiles
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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

NAMED BEST REPTILE STORE IN LOS ANGELES

I have never seen or probed a male less than 9 scales. Most are in the 12 range. This being Ball Pythons. I would think males probing shallow are either not probed correctly (males can tighten considerably) or extremely rare. But I'm sure it's possible.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

"But when popped evert very small but very obvious hemipenes."

So some male ball pythons aren't that well hung? Go figure that they would differ...I hope size doesn't matter in their world! LOL!
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

Females will pop little "nubs" that some will mistake for a male's hemipenes. Normally a male will pop and the 'penes will be nice and red from the blood flow.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Thank you but i think i'm living a bit far.... i'm living in Rome and you?

I tryed popping too, i'm using popping usually but it gave me doubts too!! When popped it showed small glands only (female-like) but very very red in colour and a bit larger than other females so i decided to probe it and it was that way shoved in video... i really don't know.. i will do so, i will pop it again and i will take a good pic and i'll post it so you will tell me your opinion.

Thank you all!!

Flavio

I would still contact the seller and just let them know what's going on.

If the snake is old enough, it should be producing sperm. When going through the popping motion, sperm is often ejected. This is a good sign for a male.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

>>Thank you but i think i'm living a bit far.... i'm living in Rome and you?

Los Angeles LOL

>>
>>I tryed popping too, i'm using popping usually but it gave me doubts too!! When popped it showed small glands only (female-like) but very very red in colour and a bit larger than other females so

This is a clear description of a not so well endowed male ball python. Having never seen the animal I am sure it is male based upon this. Females never have very very red organs in their tails.

BTW all of the tiny hemipenes I have seen and heard of in BP's are in male albinos! Trend?
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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

NAMED BEST REPTILE STORE IN LOS ANGELES

>>BTW all of the tiny hemipenes I have seen and heard of in BP's are in male albinos! Trend?
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>>AMAZON REPTILE CENTER
>>
>>NAMED BEST REPTILE STORE IN LOS ANGELES
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Looks like one of those inbetween depths....Its not too deep though and usually males go a ways in. I'd pop it or have someone pop it. If its a male you should get some more defenitive results that way!

Jason

I have to say that popping if done properly is my preference in sexing any snake. You can't deny the visual results and there is no middle ground, if it's a male it's obvious. I say this because I had snakes probed and popped and if done right popping gives you a definate result, no guessing.
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I wouldn't go by spurs or tail appearance. I have males and females with large spurs and males and females with long tails or short tails. It's not a reliable thing.

Males can probe shallow but usually not. Are you using lube when you probe to help it glide in easier and make it harder for the snake to tighten up (if it is a male)? If so, and it still won't go in any more, my guess would be female. As others mentioned, try to have someone pop it to be sure. However, if it is a male that has a lot of sphincter control, he may be able to withhold his hemipenes during popping too.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

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