Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 5 very healthy blue spiny juvies that I raised from hatchling. I got them last spring, and I think they will be a year old in April. There is one definite male, and 4 undetermined. Since I have kept them together, I suspect that there might be another sub dominant male or two.

So, how can I determine definite females in these lizards before I have multiple litters? I have separated out the one male and another suspected male. if they are all the same age, and one male has clear prevent hemipenal pores, would all of the males be colored up, or would sub dominants and runts remain neutral?

Definite Male

Possible sub dominant male

Possible female?

???

Runt

Hey,
It looks like at least 2 males, and the rest females. 1, I'm not sure about so maybe 3 males.

can you post pics of the belly of ???

Hey Tim!

I looks like the other non descript bellies, But I will try.

Okay, I have these after a bath, and one set of two that seem different to me. And Tim, yes, I am positive that spiny #1 in the first pic is male. He has clear hemipene bulges and obvious color markings. But the rest??? See why its so hard???? Argh!

RUNT

SPINY #1

SPINY #2

SPINYS #1&2

I think I have a pair in these last two. Here is the last unsexed, second one in the first post.

SPINY #3

Spiny #3 and Male together

Male and female?

Rose-the top is a male, please notice three things when sexing these--mature males have blue or light green light belly patches on each side, also the males have post anal scales, look at your male under the anal or vent plate please and you will see two large anal scales on each side of the vent in front. This is true in all males, and last of all, breeding males have pronounced femoral pores usually are larger and darkened. Based on what I see most of those are females in my opinion, because I cant see the vents that close and not knowing age, I am looking at the femoral pores and belly's of these lizards they all look female to me unless they are very young, then I would need to see the vent more clearly to ascertain if there is or isn't post anal scales apparent. You should be able to see them clearly, especially after you look at your male and get familiar with what your looking at. Hope this helps....
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www.phrynosoma.org

Yes, there are 4 fems and one male. They were young. The one male had just colored up on the belly, and I was concerned that the obvious male was so dominant that there might have been sub dom males that were slower to color up, but that was not the case. Only the one male developed coloring in the end. Thanks,
dc