sexing corns

Snakefood · 09-01-11, 03:26 PM

so I was reading a thread on another forum about the mistakes that can be made when sexing snakes.

It caused me to wonder if my male IS a male. It wouldn't matter to me (other than his name is masculine) but I would like to know.

They were talking about "false females" and how mistakes could be made and how probing on adult snakes can even result in a false female. And how popping babies was more a process of elimination (ie: I can't prove it's a male by popping, therefore it is a female)

So I have 2 questions from this.

a) is popping the only method used on hatchlings?

b) is there such a thing as a "false male" when popping is the method that was used?

I did not ask the breeder what method she used to sex him, but will see her again on sat, so will ask then.

youngster · 09-01-11, 03:33 PM

With most colubrids the male's tail is longer and skinnier than on a female. This is how I do it since I mostly encounter colubrids. It's not a very effective or guaranteeing way but I don't like hurting the animal. Popping can be excruciatingly painful. Sorry if I didn't help that's just my two cents.

Snakefood · 09-01-11, 03:40 PM

no that's ok, all info helps somewhere on the path!! Khuno's tail is so small right now, I don't think I'd be able to say. I also don't have a female of his size to compare to. The "female" I am bringing home tomorrow was a 2009 hatchling, so I suppose thier tail tips WOULD look quite a bit different, even if they were the same sex!!

If popping was the method used on my little guy, it was before I ever laid eyes on him!! I'm just wondering if he IS male, that's all. Well and I guess also if the one I am getting tomorrow IS female!! LOL!!

Will0W783 · 09-02-11, 08:12 AM

Males' tails do tend to be longer and more slender than females'. If you look at the profile, the tail shape tends to differ as well- a female will have a tail that tapers evenly down to the tip, while a male will tend to have a fatter area right around the cloaca, but then the tail tapers almost immediately and bluntly.

You can also check shed skins for shed hemipenal skin.

However, probing is a much more accurate way of sexing. If you've never done it before, I would advise you to have a friend who has done it, or a herp vet, show you the first time. Males should probe 5+ subcaudal scales while females should only probe 2-3.

Snakefood · 09-02-11, 08:21 AM

well, the tip of his tail (from cloaca to tip) is very thin and long, so the breeder probably got it right and Khuno is male.

I heard elsewhere that you should not probe a snake till it is a certain size, do any of you know anything about this.

youngster · 09-02-11, 08:50 AM

I've heard a few things about that. I don't think it's that it'll hurt the animal, but you won't get as accurate of a test? I'm not sure that's my guess. Like the snake hasn't matured enough or something along those lines.

ladyjustice33 · 09-02-11, 09:50 PM

My reptile guy said he won't even attempt to probe my guys till they are much bigger. I'm pretty sure of the sex of my boas, the corns I'm not sure of.

Snakefood · 09-02-11, 11:39 PM

mcu bigger as in my new 2 tr old may be too small to be sexed properly? I took a quick glance at her tail and it looks long and skinny too!!