Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My last thread about my Colombian rainbows was based on me probing with the thought that these boas would be similar to ball pythons of the same size and that females would be shallow (3-5 scales) and males would be deep (7 scales). Then someone told me today that they are deeper than you would think -- that females probe 8-9 scales and males probe 15 or so. Is this true? If so, then I think I need to go back and re-probe them again because I may just have 2 females and not 2 males...

I know the only "sure way" to determine gender is for them to breed. But I don't want to experiment and leave them together if they are both the same gender.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

You could always sex them by palpation/rubbing their underside. If male you should feel a small lump/bump(the hemipenises presumably). At least I assume this works with all rainbows, I know it does with BRB's.

Not that probing is bad but the palpating method is nonintrusive and you are not applying any more pressure then they would experience periodically from handling. Might be worth as a first test basically is what I meant. Then after if still unsure can always probe.

Sean.
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

I'm not sure I understand what you're talking about. Aren't hemipenes located in the tail? Do you mean palpating the underside of the tail to find them? I doubt I would be able to do this, I have to pin the snakes down with my legs just to probe them -- they do NOT hold still for anything.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

That's the nice thing about th palpation method. They don't have to hold still. Here's how it works:

Starting above the vent, run your thumb and forefinger along the animal's spine and abdomen, respectively. As you pass the vent, apply consistent, firm, but gentle pressure. If the animal is a male, you'll feel your finger pass over and come to the end of the hemipenes. It feels like a little bump at 8 to 10 or however many scales it it is on a CRB. If the animal is a female, you won't feel this bump.

Sometimes on smaller animals I have to use my ring or pinky finger because I need more sensitivity.

This is an excellent method for rainbows. The reason I like it so much is because I have no one to help probe snakes. This can be done easily by one person.
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

what he said lol and if your gon be in milwaukee any time soon jen bring them and ill do it for ya lol. ever since i recently learned how to plapate male/female i have been doing it to young rainbows brazil peru whatever my dums my hypo boas every1 and in all them the known males sure enough had a bump and known females nothign its fairly easy to do specialy on animals over a year of age lol the lil guys its harder to feel the small bump. oh and sometimes getting your finger wet helps with this as to it helps your finger slide easier when applying pressure.

I just went and re-probed both Colombians. One probes 6 scales on both sides. So is it a shallow male or deep female? The other probes 11 scales on one side, 5 on the other. I did it multiple times on each side on each snake this time and got the same answers every time.

Palpating was a worthless endeavor -- they tighten and squirm and are too thick-skinned for me to feel anything at all, other than loads of crap.

I tried popping like I do with my ball pythons, but they clench every muscle in their bodies and don't move a single scale.

So what the heck do I have? I know, I know, the only way to be definite is to see babies or not. But is it harmful to leave 2 males or 2 females in together to test this? What if they are indeed male and female but don't produce -- then I don't get an answer?
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors