Sexing Juvies

[babysweet]

Ok, so I've read all the information available about sexing cresties... but I have a question for those of you who have been involved with them for some time. I realize that previously thought "female" cresties can miraculously develop bulges seemingly overnight, but what's the general age at which you can begin to spot the males?

I'm currently housing 4 juvies, 3.5-4.5 months old, and although none of them have yet to "bulge" I don't believe I'm lucky enough to have grabbed four females (how wild would THAT be? :P)

I'm concerned because they're all in one tank, and they get along very well (although the smallest one likes to sit on the largest one's head) for now, but I would rather seperate them too soon than too early.

So at what age (or weight) do YOU start poking around down there? ;)

Kim

*edit* I should note before anyone assumes otherwise... that this is no 10 gal kritter keeper. It's a 60 gallon fully planted vivarium.

I should also note: They have lots of hide spaces, and have even begun to show preferance for certain cresties. They seem to have paired up, actually... Buick (a rust/brown flame) and Ferrari (A yellow/tan tiger) have teamed up and Mad Max (a yellow tiger) and Skye (a brown patternless with blue eyes) have teamed up.

[DragnDrop]

The typical male will start showing signs of development around 4-5 months, so if you have any males, you should get the first hint soon. There are many examples of a female really being a late blooming male, I've run into it a couple of times myself, but it doesn't happen 'that often', just enough to remind yourself not to be overly confident. I'd say out of the 5 dozen or so I've held back over the years for whatever reasons, 3 (possibly 4, can't recall right now) ended up being last minute males. As you can see, using only my example, it's not the most likely scenario, but it isn't unheard of.

If you have a magnifying glass handy, you might be able to see the preanal pores developing once the SVL (body length) gets close to 3 inches. Females can have 'dimpled pores' there too, but males of the same general age and size should have them more developed. At that age there's no way the pores will be opened and secreting the 'wax' yet, but you should be able to see some signs of development. It works better if you have a group to compare, with both sexes present, but in a group of 4 close to the same age, you might be able to get an idea.

Cloacal spurs can be used as an aid, but that's not the most reliable way. Most males have bigger and pointier 'pyramids' than females, but some females have just as good a set of spurs as males, or some males barely have much to brag about.

I don't weigh cresties, I find they escape to the walls and ceiling too fast for me. However, I have noticed one thing that might help me start getting an idea fairly early. Again, it's not foolproof either, but another hint at what they might be. I find females are more than willing to eat, while males are a bit slow. Females seem to eat more than males, and more often. Maybe the girls know they have to grow fast and store some food for egg production later, so eat what you can to make sure you have what it takes? I don't know, but it seems to me that even hatchlings tend to be more avid eaters if they're females.


I find gargoyle geckos to be way easier to sex, even though a lot of females have impressive looking bulges.

[babysweet]

4-5 months? Good to know... better start looking up their skirts a little more carefully... :P

I wasn't aware that the pores could be viewed under something as simple as a magnifying glass. I'll pick one up tonight!

Great tip, the eating behaviour... good observation! I'll keep an eye on that. I do notice a difference in willingness to take food off my finger between the four of them. Our most striking, Skye, will literally chase me down if he thinks I have food on me... lol. Oops... maybe I should start teaching myself to say "she"....

Thanks again,

Kim