First time snake owner saying hello!

Huey1A9 · 10-09-15, 01:08 AM

So I purchased my first snake about a year ago, her name is Bacon and she is a coastal rosy boa. I estimate she is about 18 months old and is that many inches long last time i measured. To be honest I'm not really certain she is a she... I'm reluctant to check the sex of the snake myself, just afraid I will hurt her. Probably something I should have a vet look at. Anyway, I've had some questions in the back of my mind about snake ownership and I figured this would be the place to go! Look forward to talking with you all!

Doug 351 · 10-09-15, 07:55 AM

Oh no!!!! Get rid of that snake quick! !!! Snakes are like drugs and potato chips....you can't have just one!!!! Oh well....probably too late already....welcome to the asylum!

prairiepanda · 10-09-15, 10:30 AM

Great choice for a first snake! Doug is right; it probably won't be your only snake.

Sexing via probing or popping takes a lot of practice and experience to do safely, so it's good that you're not thinking of doing it yourself! Snakes can be hurt quite badly if you do it wrong. But many vets, and sometimes even reptile specialty stores, will sex snakes for you

Bacon is a great name for a rosy, by the way!

**EL Ziggy** · 10-09-15, 03:58 PM

Welcome and best wishes Huey.

PsychoSnake · 10-09-15, 08:41 PM

I also have Rosies! They are great! They were my gateway snake. Now I have 19!

The non invasive way to check sex in Rosies is to look for the presence of spurs (vestigial legs) just outside the anal vent. Males have noticeable spurs while females generally lack them. (If a female does have them they are very small.) The male's tail will also be much longer to store his hemipenes.