Sex determination on KSB

[Spat]

Hi everybody!
I have a KSB. When I bought it, the guy said me that it's a male. So, today I have seen a male kenyan and his tail was really more long than the tail of mine. Is it possible to the female have a short tail and the male have a long tail? Do you think that a relation exist beetween the sex and the lenght of the tail or it's just a coincidence?

Thanks for your help!

Spat

[Stockwell]

Hey, it's more than possible, its definately true...Males have longer tails and also mobile claws. Females have no claws and shorter tails

[Spat]

:)
Thanks a lot Uncle Roy!
So, do you think that is 100% sure that it's a female or I should do probe her? She has 3.5 yearl old. She has a really short tail (19-20 scales subcaudals) and she don't really have claws, just a coloration of scale different at this place!
I want to breed her, so I will stop to search a female and I will start to find a male! :)
Thanks a lot!

Spat

[Simon]

Spat,

I think that if you take a photo of her tail and post it then Roy can definately determine the sex for you for sure. But by the definition that you posted it seems to be a female~

[Spat]

Ok, I have no pics of his tail but I have two pics that his tail is visible. I draw an arrow on the cloaca, because it's not easy to see on this pics!
http://www.magazoo.com/albumsphotos/spat/autres/copymardi.jpg

http://www.magazoo.com/albumsphotos/spat/autres/mardigras_copy.jpg

Thanks
bye
Spat

[Stockwell]

Yeah, its a girl...even weirder... I think it's one of mine...
I've produced hundreds of them over the last decade... The orange head and eyes is typical of my line, as is the speckling in the orange with females. I'm trying to breed that out, but it only happens in the females, males stay clean. The increased melanin is believed to be a mechanism for higher heat absorbtion for gestating females.
It's pretty deep in the genetic code... So far, I haven't been able to breed it out...
You should get a nice "nuclear" male for her

[Spat]

Thank you verry much for all this informations about my kenyan!
:)

Spat

[Magdalen]

Originally posted by Stockwell
Yeah, its a girl...even weirder... I think it's one of mine...
I've produced hundreds of them over the last decade... The orange head and eyes is typical of my line, as is the speckling in the orange with females. I'm trying to breed that out, but it only happens in the females, males stay clean. The increased melanin is believed to be a mechanism for higher heat absorbtion for gestating females.
It's pretty deep in the genetic code... So far, I haven't been able to breed it out...
You should get a nice "nuclear" male for her

Hmmmm Roy is it generally true that females get the speckling in the orange? Mine is supposedly a female, and she's two years old and has no speckling. She's not very big, but then again I don't know when females reach their mature length....

then someone else said its a female ..... :confused:

[Stockwell]

Most bloodlines of Loveridgei have females that produce higher melanin than males.
This trait doesn't come to light until sexual maturity is reached.
This is logical because it's at that point that gravid females must thermoregulate and absorb heat for proper gestation. Black pigment aids in heat absorption.
I suspect that this trait is common across the board for most lines of Kenyans, but it may not pertain to all.
For example Tanzanian flames, don't seem to have such a dimorphism between genders.
But many snakes of various species have females that become darker at sexual maturity...

Due to CITES limitations, bloodlines for many species tend to be consolidated within international borders.
In Canada, I've produced Kenyans for almost 2 decades... and I've produced..hundreds, probably over a thousand of them...so many on this side of the border are related, and are from my blood line which is , in fact the late great TOM HUFF'S old blooline from the former Reptile Breeding foundation in Picton Ontario(Cherry Valley).

[Magdalen]

Thank you for the information ^^

sexual maturity is around 3-4 years?

[Stockwell]

People have bred them at 18 months, but 3 or 4 years is a wiser choice, it depends on their size
and feeding habits to some extent.
Some feel mother nature will look after herself, ie they wont breed unless they can, but there may be a higher chance of delivery problems if females are rushed to breed too early..
Having their first litter in their 3 or 4 year, should be fine. Expect 5 to 10. Litters get bigger as females become older. My biggest litter was 24
from a 34 inch female

[Tigergenesis]

Are "claws" the same as anal spurs?

[Tigergenesis]

When I bought my KSB the breeder 'popped' him to show me he was male. But my little guy doesn't have any visible claws. He's only 5 months, 11.5 inches & 29 grams. He's he just too small/young to have visible claws right now?

[Stockwell]

If it's a he it will have claws... Look closely and use a magnifier.
They will be small and the same color as the scales but they will be there

[Katt]

Wow, that's a big sandie!!

[Tigergenesis]

okay - I looked closer and I think I see them. Awfully tiny, but so is he!