Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a Cali King. When picked up, it inverts its genitals...my question is this. I can clearly see "parts" being inverted but can't make out the hemipenes, specifically. Because I can see something inverted. does this mean it's definitely a male? or can you still see "parts" even with a female...just no hemiipenes? or do the femals not have "parts" to invert?

i'd really like to know if our king is male or female?

any help will be appreciated?
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1.0 Abino Striped Cali King
0.1 Amel Corn
0.1 Anery Corn
1.0.1 Black Rat
0.0.1 Eastern Garter
1.0 Normal Ball Python
2.1 Bettas

You mean this snake does this everytime it is picked up? It is probably just musking you, or worst case, could have a prolapse. Either way, I doubt that it is everting it's reproductive organs.
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Diego

I think he means he is popping the snake but he is not sure exactly what he is looking for... If this is so, then before popping another snake get with someone who has experience and let them show you what your looking for or you can always post a pic and many of us here will be able to tell you.

~ Mike Russo

Nope. UI'm not popping. I'm too inexperienced a keeper. Don't want to hurt it. This happens when I handle the snake. He or she is young and angry...as I've heard young Cal Kings can be. When I handle it...it musks most times but looks very much like it's everting its reproductive organs. It's hard to get a picture since I'm usually using both hands to hold the snake but I'll try to see what I can get to see if it will help.
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1.0 Abino Striped Cali King
0.1 Amel Corn
0.1 Anery Corn
1.0.1 Black Rat
0.0.1 Eastern Garter
1.0 Normal Ball Python
2.1 Bettas

Lol, that is exactly what I experienced with my snake! I held him up and saw something sticking out so I was worried. Then came out musk on my fingers!!! That happened when I first got him, now he doesn't do that anymore.
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Gray-Banded Kingsnake

watch out for the Wet and Squirrelly-Whirly Tail of a Cal king,word of note i seem to always pop (sex) little snake next to a faucet for obvious reasons...Stay Dry. Chris

Not everytime...but most. He is musking but something that belongs inside the snake is ceratinly visible. I've heard that they evert sometimes along with the musking process or that everting is part of the musking process. Is this true?

It's not a prolapse as it's only present when the snake is agitated/being handled. Otherwise he/she looks normal.
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1.0 Abino Striped Cali King
0.1 Amel Corn
0.1 Anery Corn
1.0.1 Black Rat
0.0.1 Eastern Garter
1.0 Normal Ball Python
2.1 Bettas

I don't think a female has anything to evert. Look in the cornsnake forum, 7/13/08, for an interesting post titled "should a yearling cornsnake evert its hemipenes".
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Kent

They do have scent glands that sometimes can be mistaken for hemis by the un-experienced eye.
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I decided my old sig was too big.

Could be..makes sense...I'm too inexperienced to know. But that's the question I was answering. I know it's everting...I'm sure of that. I am correct in saying that snakes will do that if they feel threatened...along with musking, right?

If that's the case...if there's something there to evert does that automatically make it a male? I would imagine that the female's repro. organs would stay tucked inside at all times...even when she's mad...but like I said...Inexperience...
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1.0 Abino Striped Cali King
0.1 Amel Corn
0.1 Anery Corn
1.0.1 Black Rat
0.0.1 Eastern Garter
1.0 Normal Ball Python
2.1 Bettas

Now we're getting somewhere. That's the question I was asking. I know it's everting but i wasn't sure if a female had anything to evert or not.

Thanks a bunch.
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1.0 Abino Striped Cali King
0.1 Amel Corn
0.1 Anery Corn
1.0.1 Black Rat
0.0.1 Eastern Garter
1.0 Normal Ball Python
2.1 Bettas

Funny thing..I read that post earlier...before there were any responses.

Ok, it's definitely everting but what I'm seeing seems to be a prutrusion...with no discernable hemipenes...maybe they're little and I'm missing them. He or SHe is around 2 feet long and approx 1 1/2 years old. I'm comparing this to amale black rat that we have. He's usually calm but got a little skittish one day and everted and the hemipenes were clearly visible...kind of like the same type or protrusion..well, with 2 little hemipenes on it.

Safe to say, then, that females don't have anything that can be everted...angry or not?
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1.0 Abino Striped Cali King
0.1 Amel Corn
0.1 Anery Corn
1.0.1 Black Rat
0.0.1 Eastern Garter
1.0 Normal Ball Python
2.1 Bettas

I'll be the first to say that I'm not an experienced keeper. I've only had snakes for about a year but...

I'm not trying to pop snakes. I know to leave that in the hands of experienced keepers as the snake can become injured if not popped properly.

But I feel like I've done enough research (online, books, etc) to know that when something is protruding from the snakes vent...especially when it's being handled and is trying to get away that it's everting SOMEthing. May be scent glands...may be repro. organs. Those are the answers I'm looking for.

I think a few early responders misunderstood what I'm asking.

Thanks for the input so far as most of it has been really, really helpful.

I hope to get some more responses as I don't quite feel the initial question was answered.

If a snake everts, is that a sign that it's DEFINITELY a male. In other words...can females evert? is there anything inside a female snake that can be everted?
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1.0 Abino Striped Cali King
0.1 Amel Corn
0.1 Anery Corn
1.0.1 Black Rat
0.0.1 Eastern Garter
1.0 Normal Ball Python
2.1 Bettas

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've never seen a male evert his hemi's just for defense. The pink, fleshy thing that you are seeing is probably just the scent gland and not a reliable way to sex. That's my best guess without actually seeing the snake in question.
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Diego

I don't think they do it for defense but I have seen it happen - one of my new hatchlings did it this year.

I've never seen a juvenile do it though.

I think they are inverted sometimes as neonates out of fear and excitement more than out of defense.

I know adult alligator lizards often do it - and the claim is defense mechanism, but I don't buy it. How does exposing a vulnerable part of their body aid in their defense?

I think it is a fear response without a purpose.
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I decided my old sig was too big.

Some of my baby females everted what I thought were male organs, but they were just musk glands. Red in color.

I have a female which I thought was improperly sexed when she was younger because I saw this. At that time I was very inexperienced (I'm still pretty new at sexing, but I have a lot more experience in keeping and breeding now).
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Nick Puder
www.rnpreptiles.com