Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How the heck do you sex a snake?
My daughter has a 6 ft. Red tailed boa. She's thinking about selling it (human baby coming), but we don't know how to tell if it's a he/she to do so.
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www.classylizard.com

np
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

n/p
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www.classylizard.com

you should see a little "spike" on each side of the vent if they aren't present more than likely female. This is not 100% but is pretty darn accurate especially in older snakes like yours. The only other ways are probeing and "popping" the hemipenis which is dangerous for the animal and the "family jewels". email me with how much she wants for it. I might take it in and give it a good home! :-

Robert Wood

n/p

Actually, the only way that's 100% accurate is in the case of Green Tree Pythons and Emerald Boas. if they have prongs, its a male, if they dont, its a female. In RTBs its about 60% that they'll have prongs if theyre a boy, but my proven female also has prongs and she has had several clutches, so its not 100% sure.

Get someone to probe the animal for you, that way theres no confusion.

Hope that helps,
Jamie
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Jamie A. Stine and the Gang:

1.1 Bearded Dragons (Lancelot & Guenivere)
0.1 Borneo Short Tailed Python (Ezmerelda)
0.1 Red Tailed Boa (Buffy)
1.1 Cook's Tree Boas (Sharon & Ozzy)
1.0 Short Tailed O'possum (Jethro)
1.2 Guinea Pigs (Bud, Buffy, & Belinda)
1.0 Greyhound (Hank)

Save a life, adopt a retired racer!

On boids you should be able to look at the vent and see little spurs. The males are supposed to have longer spurs than females, but unless you have something to judge against I guess that would be hard. Like Bennett said, probing is the only guaranteed way. Being 6 feet, popping isn't an option. Wish I could take that red-tail...those are my favorite snakes.

n/p
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www.classylizard.com