Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is anyone aware of someone who can sex snakes in the Wichita Falls, Texas area? My Brazilian Rainbow Boa just had babies.

Thanks.

That's an easy one, the one that just had the babies, thats the female, the other one is the male.

Just kidding, why don't you learn to sex them yourself? its not to difficult. In most cases when you have a group you can compare the base of the tail right below the cloacae. the females taper imediately, with the males the thickness right below the cloacae is as thick, or in some cases thicker then above it. Once you develop an eye for it, it's easy to tell. As far as, probing is concerned, its best to avoid. in most cases its unnecessary and many snakes resist probing making accurate readings difficult. If you want to probe, however, this is how you do it. have someone help you hold the snake so you can consentrate on the cloacae. Stroke the cloacae to relax the snake, when the snake is relaxed gentlely insert a probe into the base of the tail on either the left or right side towards the tail, do not apply much pressure and mark the length of the probe were it stops and compare. Males have hemipenes and it will enter much farther, two to three time that of the female.
if the snake tenses up while probing, or If your not sure if the probe stopped naturally. Relax the snake pull the prob back a little and try again. The probe should not be sharp and should be less then half the thickness of the base the tail. Lubercate with water, or vaseline. Here is a website with a more detailed description. It doesn't take more then a few minutes to get this down and its easier when you have a group of snakes that are the same age and species.
Link

Rick,

Thank you for the information.

Paul

Rick has presented good advice, though I would avoid the use of any petroleum product as a lubricant, as such can create a hydrophobic layer within the cloaca, which is the chamber for the urogenital and intestinal systems, and such a product would prove beneficial to pathogens.
Anytime you need an internal lubricant, the use of a water based product, such a surgical lube or KY, is recommended.
Also, entry with a probe is via the vent, into the cloaca...

best regards,

Jeff Snodgres
-----
Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947