Sexing without probing

Scott17 · 02-05-17, 10:27 AM

this is my 2010 7yr boa I've had from a baby was wondering is there any can tell the sex looked around the net found a few things about spurs but can't seem to find any on mine and tail length but without something to compare with I'm not sure any advice would be greatfull as I dont want to go the vets n get hit with a bill and we have no reptile specialists by us

MartinD · 02-05-17, 01:31 PM

Hi Scott and welcome to the forum.

Palpating (speed bump method)
This is the second best method of sexing in my opinion. Probing is the best and most full proof way of sexing a boa. If you don’t have probes or the experience to use them then the palpation method can work great with a little experience. I have to give the credit for this description and image to Dave Colling of Rainbows-R-Us-Reptiles.com.

“Holding baby in left hand, I place my right thumb along it’s spine starting at the vent down. Then with light pressure, slide the tip of a finger from vent towards tip of tail. When you’ve found a male you will know it. Feels like two little bb’s slipping away under the skin. Remember, if you think you’ve gone far enough – go further. Many people are surprised how far down the hemipenal tips are.”

**Tsubaki** · 02-05-17, 01:53 PM

Not recommended with adult snakes, getting it probed is the best option. If you want to know the gender just for fun not for breeding, an educated guess from a clear picture of the tailbase/spurs might be something. (Never 100% accurate)

Scott17 · 02-05-17, 02:28 PM

Thanks for the advise Tsubaki I will try get some pics up soon if you don't mind having a look

MartinD · 02-05-17, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

Not recommended with adult snakes, getting it probed is the best option. If you want to know the gender just for fun not for breeding, an educated guess from a clear picture of the tailbase/spurs might be something. (Never 100% accurate)

Thanks for the info Tsubaki, Ive even seen breeders use it on adult snakes, but only on video.

**Tsubaki** · 02-05-17, 11:11 PM

Yeah the "Remember, if you think you've gone far enough - go further." Could end for an adult with a broken tail if you hold them slightly wrong, or apply pressure wrong. There is more tissue and muscle nearby making it harder too. That's why I said I wouldn't recommend it. If you really 100% know what is what and what you're doing, might not be as bad but I personally wouldn't sex anything older than a few months without a probe.

Scott17 · 02-08-17, 08:49 AM

Here are a few pics of the tail n spurs I don't see no spurs tho
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz3...w?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz3...w?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz3...w?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz3...w?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz3...w?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz3...w?usp=drivesdk

**Andy_G** · 02-08-17, 08:58 AM

A presence or lack of spurs is not a reliable indicator. I have seen females with larger spurs than a male because the male's were worn down for whatever reason. It would be best to go to an expo and have someone probe your boa, or of you can afford it you can use a reputable reptile vet.

TRD · 02-08-17, 03:22 PM

Based on the tail alone, I would guess it's a male due to the slight thickening after the vent. Females tend to have a pretty even tapering in the tail, males tend to have a slightly thicker part in the tail right behind the vent.

Probing would be the only way to make it 100% sure though. Pretty hard to base anything off pictures tbh, so take it as such, I could be completely off.

GyGbeetle · 02-08-17, 09:38 PM

We know that our 8+ yo boa is male, because when he poops or urates, one of his hemi's comes out, if not both.

I'm not a big advocate for handling a snake to test their sex, only because my first (and so far only) rescue has a broken tail from someone that didn't know what they were doing, and breaking her tail. She's not in any discomfort, but I am always cautious around that area. A break closer to the vent can cause a whole slew of other problems; she was lucky it was far enough at her tip not to cause any problems.

We have a local and trusted pet store we take our snakes to (if they haven't been purchased by them already), where they are experienced at probing. It's free (because we buy a lot of stuff there monthly), and we trust them. I know not all areas have a trusted source like this, but if you can hook up with some local breeders, or maybe if there's a reptile/snake club in your area, that may be a good resource too. Or learn it on your own (I refuse, because I don't have steady hands, and I'm terrified of hurting one of the snakes.)

Albert Clark · 02-09-17, 08:28 AM

With "probing" and "popping" it's always best to know your landmarks on a snakes body for safety and performance of the procedure. Visualization of spurs and or tail length is not accurate for boas or pythons but does work very well in garter and water snakes. Actually, garter and water snakes it's the tail tapering and shape of the surrounding tissues near the vent bc they don't have spurs.

RAD House · 02-09-17, 01:30 PM

I have no experience with boas, but if probing is as easy with boas as it is with pythons I am not sure why you would do anything but probing? The probes are pretty cheap and you just have to barely put force on the probe until you hit the cloaca lining. Then it is just a matter of comparing lengths.