Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, I have had mixed opinions on the hognose forum so I figured a side-by-side pic was in order. Just for reference, the shorter snake measures 15.8" in total length and the longer snake measures 19.5" in total length, with a tail length of 2.5" and 2.4", respectively. My theory is thus; since the tail lengths differ by 0.1" and the total body length differs by 3.7", the smaller snake would have the comparitively longer tail and must then be male. They were sold to me as a yearling pair (slightly more or less the same age) and were on the same feeding regimine.

A closer view

I hope this is heterosexual love (for breeding purposes)...

Ditto!

What does everyone think?
Thanks guys,
Ryan M Bolton

Base on the second pic (the closer view), the bottom one seems to be the female because it has the bluntier shorter tail while the one above is more tapered and long.

You know it would also help if you post a side view pics of their tails. There is a good site that shows how to visually sex snakes by John O. Hollister - http://www.herpo.com/

MH
Link

Based on my experience, in the second pic the bottom hog appears to be male. Most of my female hogs' tails are short and blunt, close to the hognose on top. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

I will bet 20.00 to that ten you show in the picture that those are both females..

Ha ha, man I think I have an equally disagreeing crowd on this forum and one of the Canadian forums. I certainly think a probing is in order. I figured the worse case scenario would be two females because the previous owner kept them together and I thought that they probably weren't both males. Man I hope they are a sexual pair.
Thanks guys,
Ryan

Not all are cleat cut...Probing is a more definite way to make sure you have a pair. I still think one looks male, but sometimes you can get long-tail females or shorter males. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

..

And good luck with your project.

After seeing the whole snake I would say they are both female. Males would have much longer tails at that size.

I am positive you have two females.

My 19" male had a 4" tail, for comparison.

Here is a picture of my 19" male for comparison.

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Chris Harrison

Having two girls is a heck of a lot better than ending up with two boys!

Now you can get a male and have a breeding trio, and the males reach sexual maturity faster. So get a male this year and by the time those girls fatten up to egg laying machines, he will be ready and able!
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Chris Harrison

Haha that really is a long tail...I guess westerns and easterns might have some differences in sexing. I guess I should have mentioned that I only deal with the Easterns in my other posts :-P Oh well. Hey you need to get down here to go do some Brazoria herping with us. We turned up lots of feeder snakes and an AOR holbrooki this past weekend. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

>>Haha that really is a long tail...I guess westerns and easterns might have some differences in sexing. I guess I should have mentioned that I only deal with the Easterns in my other posts :-P Oh well. Hey you need to get down here to go do some Brazoria herping with us. We turned up lots of feeder snakes and an AOR holbrooki this past weekend. Andy
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>>Andy Maddox
>> Houston Herp Key
>> The Reptizone
>>
>>Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains
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Chris Harrison

Might head down there this weekend, although I am not sure yet. I will let you know (debating if the traffic is going to be as bad as I heard it was last year). Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

You've got two females, I've been tricked before but, I would bet that you have 0.2 in that pic. Now all you need is one Male.
Paul Bollinger
Bayou.Surreal.Reptiles
504-415-2423