Sexing Corns

[jjaj02]

Ok, I know this question has been asked a million times before but I don't have a lot of time today to look around the site to find my answer. My question is.......is there any way to properly sex a snake without probing it??? Does the "just looking at it" method work or is it not really that accurate?? If it is somewhat accurate can someone please explain to me what the difference is between males and females by looking at them. Pictures or drawing would be great. Also how old do they have to be before you can tell with this method. Thanks everyone.

[Invictus]

There is absolutely no way other than probing to accurately sex a corn snake.

[gonesnakee]

I'll have to disagree with Ken. I agree with him for female Corns as mistakes can be made while "popping", but if "popped" & there is hemipenes visable it is definitely a male. "Popping" is the only other "accurate" sexing that can be done other than probing. Popping as well as probing should only be done by those with experience. Popping involves the manual manipulation of "popping" the hemipenes out by applying gentle pressure with ones thumb to do so & is not always 100% effective. Just because you didn't see the hemipenes doesn't always mean that they are not there. Both methods can injure your snake if not done properly by someone who knows how. Looking at tails etc. is a guessing game & they will surprise ya when actually probed sometimes. Mark

[Invictus]

Well of course popping will guarantee you a male if hemipenes evert, but like you said, if none evert, it could still be a male. Hence why I said the only *accurate* way is probing. :P

[LISA127]

Isn't popping only done on babies, though?

[gonesnakee]

Lisa127 yes popping is generally only done on baby or very young snakes. Older snakes have more muscle control & don't "work" very well, probing is the way to go anyhow especially with older specimens that ar easy to do so. Popping is often done because the snakes are almost too small to probe as babies. Mark

[McPatch]

Mark
One of these days I'll have to get you to show me how to probe snakes.Might as well learn from a pro.
Darren

[Derrick]

lol I tried poping my corns last night. What a fiasco first one crapped on me and nothing happened with the second nothing happened. Im a little nervous about applying to much preasure maybe it was a female who knows. they sure are squirmy buggers. I couldnt even imagine probing those little suckers. You could probably use a fat straw to help restrain them(just thought of that). No one thats buyin these guys cares about the sex any way.

I've only got 2 left to get feeding so I'm pretty plaesed about that.

[jjaj02]

Thank for all the info. I have just been taking peoples words on it until now and i dont wanna do that ne more. Thats why I was asking. Thank again for the help.

[gonesnakee]

THX Darren, but I wouldn't really consider myself a pro LOL I'm still not 100% sure of myself when it comes to certain Pythons etc. & am still not entirely comfortable "popping". I'm always too worried I'll hurt them LOL
Derrick, people who don't care about the sex are the best customers it eliminates that slight margin of error & one less thing to worry about LOL Mark

[Bartman]

I was reading a book, not that reliable, but it said you can see the difference is the lengths of the tails? Anyone heard this before, true or just bs?

[Will]

That tail thing is mentioned in the Love's Corn Snake Manual - about looking at tails to sex snakes. They say it is one of the more reliable methods of sexing snakes and they have photos to show what they are talking about. They say once you get good at it, it is near 100%.

Problem is, I don't nessesarily think tails are a great way to sex a snake. And they have photos to back their claim, but I can't really tell from the photos what is male and what is female. Even though they describe what to look for, I couldn't tell what is what from the photo - except that they actually tell me which is male/female under the photo...

I tried comparing and looking at tails with my hatchling Cals and messed up on almost half of them after probing. Slightly better odds than just flipping a coin. Although it should be noted that I had no prior experience trying that method and 5 snakes doesn't nearly make a large enough sample. I've never learned how to pop, so I'll stick with probes...

[Tim_Cranwill]

Popping small colubrids like cal kings and corns takes the right touch. Just to see someone do it or even to be taught, does NOT mean you will get the sex right when you try.

Like Ken said, if you see the 'penes, it's a boy. If you don't, ????? But with the females, you will learn what to look for. You don't see hemipenes but they are a bit different. I always sex the "females" several times before I label their bin.

Females are always hard to sex... ;) :p

Now, probing is a different story. THAT is the ideal method. But if the snake is too small to probe, you have two choices: to pop it or to sell it unsexed. :)

[jjaj02]

Thanks guys. I think I will take all my snakes to a friend of mine that can probe them. That way I can know for sure instead of taking everyones word for it.