How can you...

[snowcornsnake]

Hi all

i have a quick corn snake question. How can you sex them?

-thanks

[SerpentLust]

The only reliable method of sexing is probing. I wouldn't recommend doing it yourself if you've never done it. I had someone show me how.

Jenn

[Researcher]

HI,

I am a researcher for a Channel 4 documentary. We are hoping to borrow a snake preferably a boa constrictor for a shoot this Friday. Would you by any chance own one or know how we can get hold of one?

We promise to take good care of it

Teresa

[SerpentLust]

That all depends on where you're located...

[peterm15]

there are many ppl who own and would most likely have no problem "loaning" a snake to an indoor warm location and not many ppl come in contact with thim.. snakes are not dogs or cats.. they are not cuddley sweet ect ect.. personally i have a 4 foot ball that loves to be out.. and is very tame.. would i trust her with a bunch of strangers.. no espically without me there.. i know when my snakes is agitated, about to strike or just not in the mood to be held.. it sounds stupid but its like a parents instinct.

my one suggestion is to get a little more info about your station and yourself on here... something so we know your not just a person looking for a free boa... some of these snakes are extreemly expensive and some ppl on here rely on there morphs to make them money as there only source of income.. more info about what is happening.. the conditions involved ect ect.. but ill warn you.. no responsible owner will leave there snake behind for even a second..


***a note to anyone who is considering helping this reporter.. make sure you look up your local laws and the laws of the place youll be visiting... wouldnt want anything to happen.. and you walk home one animal down.***

[gonesnakee]

In reguards to sexing snakes there are only 2 ways to do so & both are accurate. If you want to include visual sexing there are 3 ways but visual sexing is not accurate, unless you see actual copulation between 2 snakes or egg laying taking place then it is very accurate in the case of eggs or seeing the males hemipenes inserted into the female during sex. Other than that it is not accurate at all IMHO.

Probing usually works best & males probe considerably deeper than females. There are occassions where they will probe "in the middle" but usually by probabing both sides an accurate decision can be made. Most cases Colubrids its like "night & day" as the males generally probe way deeper, but you do get the odd 1 thats hard to tell. It is very difficult to probe younger snakes & must only be done by someone with experience doing so or the snake can be harmed. Adults can be harmed as well if not done properly.

The other method of sexing is "popping" & it is only generally done with baby snakes. "popping" is the manual inversion of the hemipenes (if the snake is a male) or the lack of in the case of a female. If the snake "pops" male it is 1000% a male as girls do not have hemipenes. "popping" is not always accurate for determining females as it is difficult to get the hemipenes to "pop" in some cases. Just because you didn't see them doesn't mean they are not there (in some cases anyway). If you see them there is zero doubt. Again snakes can be injured if not done properly by an experienced hand.

In reguards to a Boa for a TV shoot you are asking in the wrong place for starters as this is the General Colubrid Forum & Boas are Boids not Colubrids. Try posting in the Boa forums or the General Forum & you will get more responses as the people in the Boa forums usually have Boas & those in the Colubrid forums have Colubrids ;) Mark

[snowcornsnake]

ok......... thanks all!!!!