Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi I have some normal sub adult CA boas and was wondering if there is an easier way to sex them other then probing which I dont like because its invasive? Also popping seems to be getting me bit alot so its not working. So I was wondering if there more sexual dimorphic looks at this age or any other ways to check.

Thanks

Well for one you can visibly look and see if they have large
spurs, also the 'Rubberband' method. If you can get the Boa to
stay still on a table it would be best. Turn the Boas tail up-
side down and take your thumb and middle finger and hold gently
but firmly on the sides. Take your pointer finger and start
firmly rubbing from cloaca down the tail (following with fingers on the side.
You will either feel 'nothing' or a 'Rubberband' type of effect when they are stretched tight and you flick them.
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Kenny Bowman

"Symetry Exotics"
Honesty is the only route to TRUE respect, anything else is unacceptable....

I personally, do not follow with my fingers that are grasping the tail and only move the one that is searching for the BB's. I feel doing so hightens the chance of damaging the discs in the spine, dislocating/separating them, etc. by pulling the tail away from the body if you grasp too hard by accident.

I like the way Dave teaches it, maybe he will post his link? I describe it as setting a stabilizing finger on the topside of the tail (I use my thumb because it is larger) and lightly run another finger down the underside of the tail (I use my index for this)to feel for the BB's or 'rubberband' effect. I do NOT move my thumb while I do it, only the searching finger. It requires a little pressure, but not an excessive amount.

This is my favorite method as well, good luck!

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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.1 Sunglow (Rojo and Temperance (25% Suriname))
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
1.0 Probable Super Salmontine(Kahn)
0.1 Salmontine (Sonya)
2.0 DH Sunglow (Gabrielle and Dumah)
1.0 Hypo het anery (Don Juan)
1.1 07 Hypo pos. triple hets (Rico Suave & Pumpkin)
1.0.1 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.1 2007 Mostly striped boa (Andromeda)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.0 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal(deceased)
1.3 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Tang, Isis)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.2 BPs ( Precious, Houdini)
1.2 Carpet Pythons (Jackson, Charlotte, & Cassandra)
1.2 Blood python (Akaia, Thorn, Elliot)
1.1 Borneo Blood Pythons (Donovan and Deanna)
1.2 Children's Pythons (Spot, Freckle and Speckle)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)
1.0 Saharan Uromastyx

That is who I learned it from, but with a little larger than
baby Boas does not work as easilly. And if someone who would
grip the Boa that hard obviously does not know what they are
doing in the first place. I do however see where you were coming
from, it was late.
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Kenny Bowman

"Symetry Exotics"
Honesty is the only route to TRUE respect, anything else is unacceptable....

I definitely wasn't correcting anything you said, I agree with it 100%, mainly just adding my perspective onto what you said for the OP! I am a big fan of palpating...
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.1 Sunglow (Rojo and Temperance (25% Suriname))
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
1.0 Probable Super Salmontine(Kahn)
0.1 Salmontine (Sonya)
2.0 DH Sunglow (Gabrielle and Dumah)
1.0 Hypo het anery (Don Juan)
1.1 07 Hypo pos. triple hets (Rico Suave & Pumpkin)
1.0.1 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.1 2007 Mostly striped boa (Andromeda)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.0 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal(deceased)
1.3 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Tang, Isis)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.2 BPs ( Precious, Houdini)
1.2 Carpet Pythons (Jackson, Charlotte, & Cassandra)
1.2 Blood python (Akaia, Thorn, Elliot)
1.1 Borneo Blood Pythons (Donovan and Deanna)
1.2 Children's Pythons (Spot, Freckle and Speckle)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)
1.0 Saharan Uromastyx

Can be done either belly up or down, I like belly up so I can see better what I'm doing. Grasp baby just above the vent with one hand. Place your other thumb along the spine for support. Slide your finger tip along belly from vent toward tail (moist finger tip helps). About 1/2" to 1" down the tail, if it's a male, you will feel one or two little bumps inside the tail slip under your finger tip. Those are the tips of the hemipenes. Commonly refereed to as the BB's.

Here's a GIF showing it being done....

Right about the end of the colored belly pattern is where I found the BB's on this male.

Try it over and over again on several babies until you find a male. Once you have a known male you can practice on him to tweak your methods and pressure applied etc.

Additional tips:

Slide your fingertip further than you think, you'll be surprised how long some hemipenes are.

RE-CHECK all "females" sometimes a lesser endowed male can get missed on the first pass through.

You can use any finger tip you like, I use my ring finger as it's more sensitive (less calloused).
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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 (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I like the way you explain it better too, but the GIF is priceless!
Thanks for posting!
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.1 Sunglow (Rojo and Temperance (25% Suriname))
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
1.0 Probable Super Salmontine(Kahn)
0.1 Salmontine (Sonya)
2.0 DH Sunglow (Gabrielle and Dumah)
1.0 Hypo het anery (Don Juan)
1.1 07 Hypo pos. triple hets (Rico Suave & Pumpkin)
1.0.1 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.1 2007 Mostly striped boa (Andromeda)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.0 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal(deceased)
1.3 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Tang, Isis)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.2 BPs ( Precious, Houdini)
1.2 Carpet Pythons (Jackson, Charlotte, & Cassandra)
1.2 Blood python (Akaia, Thorn, Elliot)
1.1 Borneo Blood Pythons (Donovan and Deanna)
1.2 Children's Pythons (Spot, Freckle and Speckle)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)
1.0 Saharan Uromastyx

disturbed has the right idea the way i explain it is you will feel what seems to be a little bb in the underside of the tail beneth the colaca hope this helps its a great way to make sure and works awesome regards

Look at this link and thank Dave for it, it's his masterpiece!!!

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1695803,1696029

Chaz Neely

THERE IT IS LOL! The MASTERPIECE!!
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Kenny Bowman

"Symetry Exotics"
Honesty is the only route to TRUE respect, anything else is unacceptable....

Thanks guys that info on all that helped alot it worked for sure!! Thanks again

I'm strictly a paint by the numbers guy. I did manage to stay inside the lines (mostly) on that one!!!
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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 (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I use your Gif all the time Dave ,of course
I mention that it belongs to you.
Its a wonderful tool for describing
this procedure

. . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz