Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, my "female" Stripeline Albino is a great animal. Although she loses color in her saddles she gains it in her sides with age and shedding.

Now the problem, I need a female because my Type II 66% het Albino is a male. Well my "Female" who was born 9-14-04 and been in my care since the end of December, may be a male.

I don't need a male, and this would really screw my project. What should I do, I have to have her sexed (I am not comfortable with it yet).

I was probably just going to trade with someone for a female. I just hate to do that because mine is nearly a year old, also it will be tough to get someone with a nice colored Albino female to trade for min (if mine is indeed a male).

Hi, Chris,
In my humble opinion (which I really have to say after seeing all the greats who post on this site!), I completely understand. I've been working with an EXCEPTIONAL reptile vet for about 12 years now and I had the same concerns up until very recently. At first, I was VERY reluctant to probe anything small, but my vet and I share the same thoughts now. It's okay, but you have to be careful and experienced or get someone who is. If the probing process starts to get questionable, give up and try later. If you think you're risking the animal's safety, it's just not worth it. The one thing that I really don't like is the "popping" thing. That just seems like a really bad idea to me. so overall, I'd say you'd be fine to probe, expecially an animal 9 months old, just be careful. I'd do that before I ditched a tried and true snake that I really liked.

I have a friend that is very experienced with sexing babies useing both poping and probing. (I think a probe is better)

What I should say, what do I do if my snake turns out to BE a MALE?

Well, I've never heard of popping a boa at that age, but I have no problema popping neonates - gently. I had young ones probed before, and later popped by a vet, and the probing was way off -- could've been the guy doing it (years ago). I now take boas that I buy (from 6 mo - 4 ft) to my vet to have them probed. He uses a cat cathedar to do it. It smooth and a bit flexible. -- Good luck.
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--aka DMOG68