Sexing Hondos

[Classic]

Well, Its just about time to start sexing these hondo beauties.

I am on the fence for this issue.

Poping: Quick and easy but can be very harmful if not done properly. This is a short high-stress time period.

Probing: Slower and more difficult unless shown proper techniques. Can be harmful/fatal if the wrong size probe is used. Takes longer to perform but stress level is reduced depending on the specimens demeanor.

Thanks,

Brian
HighWaterHerps

[BoidKeeper]

I prefer popping myself for hatchling colubrids. The younger the easier. Try a few and if they don't pop then got to the probes.
If you're back in Ottawa now I'm sure there is someone out there with probing hatchlings experience.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Stockwell]

Just pop them Brian. Nobody probes baby Hondos.
It's not a good idea especially with hondos that will be flailing around chewing your arm off. It's hard enough keeping them still to pop them. Trying to do it with a piece of steet shoved into their tail, is going to prove impossible and dangerous.

The really bright ones will be males. Females are generally slightly more drab, with more tipping.
It probably sounds dumb but I can sex them right out of the egg that way with about 80% accuracy before I even touch them..

You'll see the difference in tail geometry too. As you hold them to pop them, take note of the appearance of the tail.. Males have much longer tails that are thicker at the base and taper evenly towards the tip.
Females tails fall off more suddenly in a "dip" right after the cloaca.
It takes some time and practice but since you will need to have the tail in your hand anyway, try to get used to looking at the way they are built.
I generally pick them up in my legt hand and pull the tail out straight with my right and sex them visually while I adjust them into position to pop them. I then follow through and everting them confirms what I usually already know... The more you do, the better you get at it.
Females will pop two little red buttons, and males will have much longer deep red hemipenes.
Somtimes only one hemipene will pop until you get experienced, but one is all it takes for you to confirm a male.
Never try to pop the same snake over and over in the same few minutes. If you flub it, or are uncertain try again in a few hours or the next day.
I've noticed that repeated attempts to pop the same snake, tends to soften up the tissue in the tail and then it just doesn't work very well, so if that happens, give the snake a rest and move on to another to try that one again later

The combined use of all the visual and evertion tips above should make your life easier than probing with a higher success rate.
Baby snakes that are female can often be probed males as the probe pierces the scent glands and penetrates the soft tail tissue.

[Classic]

I've practiced both techniques this season but the hondos are a little more agressive and larger than the corns. Baby hondos are very spastic as i have come to know vewry quickly. They have more pronounced teeth rather than the sand paper effect of a hatchling corn. I've found corns to be very easy to pop over the milks.
I know size is no really an issue when poping a snake but the larger ones obviously require the perfect technique. I'd have to say that i will stick to the smaller ones but who knows.
Only more experience will tell.
Thanks

Brian

[bighillreptiles]

hay Brian let me no what the one i tould you i liked is i would say male what the heck i have a 50/50 chance right LOL Paul you can do it you have breed tham now you can sex tham we have faith in you

[Classic]

Sexing is no big deal. I am still wet behind the ears but finding a better way is always better.

Thanks for the info all.
Brian
hwh

[Jeff_Favelle]

Popping for babies for sure. Just wrap the head and upper body in an old shirt and pop away. Piece of cake, and no biting.

[Tim_Cranwill]

What I do to pop is; As soon as I pick them up out of the egg box, I hold them at mid-body with my left hand and hold just before the cloaca between my left thumb and index finger. That is the grip I get on them. Then I just pop them with the thumb of my right hand with my right index finger on the top of ther spine opposite the cloaca. :)

But easier said than done. :D It's one of those things that once you get the hang of it, it's as easy as pie... but it's getting to that point that can be tricky. :)

[Kevin McRae]

Originally posted by Stockwell

The really bright ones will be males. Females are generally slightly more drab, with more tipping.
It probably sounds dumb but I can sex them right out of the egg that way with about 80% accuracy before I even touch them.You'll see the difference in tail geometry too. As you hold them to pop them, take note of the appearance of the tail.. Males have much longer tails that are thicker at the base and taper evenly towards the tip.
Females tails fall off more suddenly in a "dip" right after the cloaca.
It takes some time and practice but since you will need to have the tail in your hand anyway, try to get used to looking at the way they are built.


Is this the same with pueblan milks?I want to get a pair but they can't be sexed from the breeder......but either way i would get two awesome snakes if I'm wrong:)

[Stockwell]

It isn't guaranteed and depends on the blood line and frequently campbelli females can look just as nice as males out of the egg. Pueblans should be popped to confirm gender, just like most colubrids(and many boas and pythons). If a breeder can't sex them, he/she should get some help and try to learn. It's pretty hard to sell snakes if you haven't learned to sex them.
You sound like a great customer, but most buyers won't be looking for 2 males even if they are "awesome" :)

[Kevin McRae]

He has his own traveling reptile show, and he just lets them breed and he sells his babys......he knows how to pop them i think, its just he is usually wrong(probaly not with the males though...lol)