Males and females.

[Grim Reaper]

How can one distinguish beween male- and female -snakes?

(I am actually a bit scared to handle my snakes with my bare hands and therefore I do it with some handling-sticks I made.)

[DaemoNox]

For an adult probing is the best way, which needs to be done by someone who knows how to do it. What species is it?

[Reticsrule]

as DaemoNox said probing is the best way, but should only be attempted by experienced people. but why are you scared to handle your snakes? thats a rather strange statement on a herp forum.

[Grim Reaper]

For an adult probing is the best way, which needs to be done by someone who knows how to do it. What species is it?

First, thanx for the reply. Probing, huhh??? WTF? I most definately dont know how to do it! Maby then I have to take them all to our local vet...?

I've got 4x Brown House Snakes, 1x Young Mole Snake and 1x Cape Centipede Eater.

[Grim Reaper]

as DaemoNox said probing is the best way, but should only be attempted by experienced people. but why are you scared to handle your snakes? thats a rather strange statement on a herp forum.

Well, please don't laugh... I do pick them up by their tales, but they always tend to bend around and try to bite me. I have indeed (When cleaning the one terrarium this weekend) picked up the first one via gripping it behind the head! I feel good about that...

It's just the whole idea of getting bitten that really turns me off!!!!
But maby once I've had my first bite, I would realise it's MABY not that bad. :)

[gonesnakee]

I don't know about the last snake listed but the other snakes you have are all very small & harmless. I have to laugh at you openly LOL I'm sorry but are you for real :rolleyes: Some interaction would do both you & them good. Probing is done in the vent towards the tail & males tend to probe considerably deeper than females, but it must be done by an experienced hand. baby snakes can be "popped" again by someone who knows how to. when popping you are looking for hemipenes, male sex organs (or not LOL). Mark

[Grim Reaper]

I don't know about the last snake listed but the other snakes you have are all very small & harmless. I have to laugh at you openly LOL I'm sorry but are you for real :rolleyes: Some interaction would do both you & them good. Probing is done in the vent towards the tail & males tend to probe considerably deeper than females, but it must be done by an experienced hand. baby snakes can be "popped" again by someone who knows how to. when popping you are looking for hemipenes, male sex organs (or not LOL). Mark

Thats not cool, don't laugh @ me!!! Why would interaction do me good and how on earth could it do them good?

Would you encourage me to do the probing / "popping"? If indeed so, then how should it be done and with what and for what must I be on the lookout?

[gonesnakee]

Sorry but have to laugh when the "Grim Reaper" is hesitant to handle house snakes :flick: Its good to keep them socialized & is also good exercise for them. I wouldn't recomend getting any big snakes Cheers Mark
P.S. no don't try to sex them yourself, hard to do without holding them for starters ;) OK I won't tease anymore promise :D Find an experienced hand to do so.

[Grim Reaper]

Sorry but have to laugh when the "Grim Reaper" is hesitant to handle house snakes :flick: Its good to keep them socialized & is also good exercise for them. I wouldn't recomend getting any big snakes Cheers Mark
P.S. no don't try to sex them yourself, hard to do without holding them for starters ;) OK I won't tease anymore promise :D Find an experienced hand to do so.

All has their fears, that's one of Grim's fears... :medcomcic
I'm glad... Enough with the teasing... Where's the "Shy" smiley... Hehehe

[DaemoNox]

If your afraid to handle them maybe snakes arnt the right pet for you; you cannot be afraid of being bitten. Your fear is just making them afraid, causing them to want to bite more. They arnt mean, they're just as scared of you as you are them. I think you need to ignore that fear and take on a few harmless painless bites.

[gonesnakee]

Ever play with a kitten or puppy? If so you have been hurt worse by them than a house snake ever will do to you, if they ever were to even bite that is, Mark

[Grim Reaper]

Listen guys, I really want to thank you a damn lot! You have really motivated me a lot into handling my snakes. I have indeed handled them this weekend much more than I used to before and will do so even more as of now.
Again thanks a million!

Will this frequent handling not stress them up more?

Oh yeah.. By the way...Since I've moved my Mole snake into his own cage last week, it shedded for the very first time since its been in captivity, yuppy!!! (Al came off in one piece!!!)
:zi:

[snake 101]

when its young a males rproductive organs stick out the females doesnt and from what ive heard when their older probing is the best way to go.

[redtails]

You should take them to a vet like you said or maybe a pet store that has a reptile expert. Try to get them checked over while you're there also if you have the money.

Don't worry about getting bit, it's nothing especially with little snakes. The first time I got bit was scary for me, a kingsnake about 7yrs into keeping reptiles, so don't feel bad. If you're a little afraid, just hold em behind the head and keep em away from yours or something like this might happen:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a3/AZBurms/When%20Pythons%20attack/sunp0006.jpg
That's my ex-retic on my eyebrow.

Ross

[Grim Reaper]

I'm handling all my snakes now, letting them crawl through my fingers etc.
They're actually quite cool!!!
Seems like the Brown House Snakes like it. The Mole Snake needs some getting used to, but it's getting there.

Then I got one Horned Adder richer last week, very agro snake!!! Scares the shite out of me, and I'll most definately not play with it!!! :skull:

[gonesnakee]

I think it would be in your best interest to get rid of the Adder ASAP You just started handling snakes very recently you have no where near enough experience to be dealing with HOTS, not even remotely close to being ready for such a huge commitment. I would seriously rethink this aquistion, it could end up being a life & death decision. Seriously Mark

[l3@11pyth0l\l]

I don't know a lot about snakes other than my ball pythons, but i do know that getting bit by them is not that bad. I have been bitten 4 times in 6 years, and the worst that happens is you bleed a little. i compare the feeling of getting bitten to getting stapled with an office stapler. also my son who was 5 at the time, got bitten on the lip by them and the worst he did was slobber for about 5 minutes. he didn't even cry. don't get me wrong, getting bitten is not something i look forward to. also keep in mind that you are bigger around than the snakes are. they cannot eat you :)