Hi I was just wondering if anyone could tell me how to sex these guys while still immature. Any feedback would be appriciated, but if you have done this can you kinda be specific because I've never done it before. If it isn't something that someone who has no experiance should do then let me know that also, but please, don't hold the information back.
Marc
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Sexing immature Dwarf Caimens?
marcus-sparkus
May 29, 2003 08:02 PM
Replies (5)
Bill Moss
May 29, 2003 10:23 PM
There is a good section on sexing them at the croc FAQ linked on this page. I am the hand model sexing a 14" dwarf caiman by "popping" the penis. If after you've read this you still have questions, feel free to ask.
Bill
marcus-sparkus
May 31, 2003 05:04 PM
What would you say is the size limit on popping these guys? Would it be possible to pop a 2 footer? if its ok Iam gonna just tell you breifly about a little event that happened and see what you think about it. I went to a petshop where I know there are a couple pretty experianced people. He sexed a 2 footer using the popping method and since he couldn't see the hemipenis he said it was a female. The only thing is that there was a VERY noticable lump at the vent area and this made me confused. Any help here would be appriciated.
Marc
Bill Moss
Jun 01, 2003 09:21 PM
A two footer would be easy to pop. At that age it is a little small to use your little finger to probe for the gristley, tubular shape of the organ. If done properly, as shown in the photos and described in the text on crocodilian.com the male organ should be quite visible. It could even be confused with the female clitero-penis - which should also be visible and very similar in appearance. The male organ will evert well past the outside of the vent where the females will not evert past the vent.
As for the "bulge" - the organ is so small at that age that it will not (in my experience) create any outward appearance that would be a tip-off.
Bill
marcus-sparkus
Jun 02, 2003 08:59 AM
Thanks a bunch! If I ever have any more questions this is where I'm comin.
P.S. I still don't have the caimen, I'm just trying to learn as much as I can about them first and get everything set up before I decide what I'm doing. Can you suggest any reading to me?
BIll Moss
Jun 02, 2003 11:38 AM
I would recommend reading the croc FAQ linked on this page, visit crocodilian.com and poke around there and finally, get a copy of Chris Deiter's book "The Ultimate Guide to Crocodilians in Captivity" (see link to Amazon.com)
