Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'd like to get everyone's opinion on your preferred method of sexing babies, and how long after birth do you sex them?

I'm no pro, but I generally wait until the babies have eaten a
few times then I sex them by feeling the underside of their
little tails for the hemipenes from the cloaca back.

I do each one a few times over a month to try and be sure...

They can be sexed as soon as they are born. Is easier to do when they are cleaned up and not covered in slime.

I also palpate, feeling for the hemipenes. Here's a gif showing how I do it.

Holding baby in left hand, I place my right thumb along it's spine starting at the vent down. Then with light presure, slide the tip of a finger from vent towards tip of tail. When you've found a male you will know it. Feels like two little bb's slipping away under the skin. Remember, if you think you've gone far enough - go further. Many people are surprised how far down the hemipenal tips are.

One other note, IMO not a good idea to sex when the baby is near to shedding.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

np

i have heard of this as the rubber band(from the popping). pop,probe, and now pull. this is the best way to sex a YOUNG boa,in my book that is.
-----
ball pythons
garter snake morphs easterns/checkereds/floridas/redsides
western hognose
1.1 super kids Memfis Lance and Linda May(co-dom)