Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just trying to see if any experienced herpers will supply an estimate or “best guess” that may help me.

I know that the only sure way to determine snake gender is to probe. With colubrids, you generally can determine sex by looking at the vent-to-tail area from the side:

Males tend to have longer tails that taper evenly.

Females tend to have shorter tails that abruptly drop-off just past the vent.

My Pacific Gopher is wild caught, has been in captivity at least 1.5 to 2 years. Based on what I was told by the prior owner, my guess is that it is 3-5 years old. It is very slim bodied.

Prior owner assumed that it is a male, but looking at the vent I see a very abrupt taper, with no obvious bulge at the vent. However, there is a slight bulge about an inch below the vent, and tail length is at least six or seven inches long.

Advanced herpers - what is your guess for:

1. Age?
2. Gender?

?.? Pituophis catenifer catenifer
0.1 Pantherophis guttatus (Carolina)
1.0 Elaphe schrencki

That should help with guestimating.

A PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS.... SOUNDS LIKE A FEMALE BUT A SIMPLE GLANCE IS ALL IT TAKES.

Female

Male
These are a pair of '08 adults.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

I'll use this as a guide to see if it helps.

Will try to post a vent photo later, if snake permits.

I'm still acclimating it now, not practical to get a good vent photo yet.

Will try to get a suitable photo to post later. Thanks for your reply.

Shadowguy was right, my snake is a female. I had her probed at a local reptile dealer. A very experienced herper, he charged only $10 to probe.

(The local "exotic" veterinary charges $50 for a general snake examination. They do not allow a la carte pricing to only sex snakes - which is why they just lost $10.)

0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer
0.1 Pantherophis guttatus (Carolina phase)
1.0 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (wild in back yard nature zone)

I'd like to see a picture of her, if it is not too much hassle.

My '08 girl Gonzo.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Hey, thanks for the interest. I took photos outside, but most did not turn out either due to distance or glare problems. Inside photos were either too dark or had glare problems, too. I have a very simple digital camera to work with, not nice equipment.

Below is my Flickr link showing some photos of her coloration & patterns.

She I wild-caught from Clatskanie, Oregon, near the Columbia River. This is the northern-most part of their current range. (Former populations in the Puget Lowlands and Vancouver Island are reportedly rare or extinct due to habitat development.) She is about three to five years-old, and has been captive about two years.

Slim body has tri-colored sections. Primary colors are straw-yellow, black, oak or burgundy brown & salmon. Dorsal colors are darker. Blotches are burgundy-brown at the base of his neck & tail, and oak-brown in the larger, middle section. Sides are even lighter straw-yellow, with either dark brown or black blotches.

For a wild-caught snake, she is surprisingly placid. When handling, she rides on my arms or shoulders and is mostly predictable. She does not jerk nor bolt. At her most upset moments she has only hissed mildly. She basks on branches daily and often explores. She is alert, active & curious. I really enjoy her.

Ameron
Portland/Vancouver

0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer
0.1 Pantherophis guttatus (Carolina phase)
1.0 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (wild in back yard nature restoration zone)

Flickr link