Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have three Western Hognose Snakes that are all about a foot long now. When comparing them I cannot tell any differences in the tail shape or length (knowing my luck they are all males...). My questions are, can I reliably sex them based on blotch counts from snout to vent (the information I've found on websites seems to vary quite a bit)? Also, a local pet store can probe them but I am not sure they are big enough that it wouldn't injure them. Any advice on accurately sexing them would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
-Joe-
Myspace Profile

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0.1.0 Colombian Red-tailed Boa (100% Het. for albino)
0.0.3 Western Hognose Snakes
0.1.0 Plains Garter Snakes
1.0.0 Red-sided Garter Snake
1.2.0 Barred Tiger Salamanders
0.0.1 Red-eared Slider
3.4.50 /- Guppies

I've never heard or read about sexing them based on blotch counts. Tail length is somewhat reliable, especially if you have a known frame of reference. At a foot long, they should be fine to be probed without any harm to the snakes. Just make sure that someone who knows what they are doing probes them properly.
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Robert Charvat
1.1 het albino Western Hognose

Can you post pics of their undersides? You could get help here if we can see their tails

I can't find the charger to my camera battery right now but will try to borrow a camera tomorrow to get some pictures up. The guy that can probe the snakes has been doing it for many years but I watched him once and he wasn't very gentle about it so I am a little reluctant. Thank you in advance and I will try to get the pictures as soon as possible.

-Joe-
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0.1.0 Colombian Red-tailed Boa (100% Het. for albino)
0.0.3 Western Hognose Snakes
0.1.0 Plains Garter Snakes
1.0.0 Red-sided Garter Snake
1.2.0 Barred Tiger Salamanders
0.0.1 Red-eared Slider
1.3.0 Mice
3.4.50 /- Guppies

Unfortunately, if you can't tell the difference by thier tails, they're probably the same sex! Pray for girls!

Here is a pic of a male compared to a female...hope it helps...

Not sure where the cloacas are, but the albino, looks to be a male and the other, if the cloaca is where the black ends, looks like a girl! Hope that helps!