Sexing sub adult snakes

[pythonmum]

I have easy (only 45 min - 1 hour) access to a specialist vet. He just probed my little hatchies using some thick suture material and KY jelly while looking through a big magnifying glass. They didn't seem to find this uncomfortable. They were more concerned about being held still for the procedure, but none bit me (yipee!). A 4 foot Bredl would be easy by comparison, but it's definitely a 2-person job with one holding and one probing.

 

[garthy]

Take a photo of the tail vent area side on, you can usually see an even gradual tapering straight from the vent scale in a female towards the tip of the tail. In a male there is usually a bulge or no tapering ie; spine and belly run parallel until about 15 to 20mm past the base of the tail before evenly tapering to the tip .............if that makes sense

Makes a lot of sense, thankyou...
It amazes me that in years of keeping reptiles, having snakes probed, sexing hatchies (hatcho's if that's your preference) by exposing hemipenes. No-one has ever suggested looking from side on. Even the books generally suggest tapering etc from a top or bottom view.
Thanks again, I will go and look....failing that I'll get some more phots.

I have easy (only 45 min - 1 hour) access to a specialist vet. He just probed my little hatchies using some thick suture material and KY jelly while looking through a big magnifying glass. They didn't seem to find this uncomfortable. They were more concerned about being held still for the procedure, but none bit me (yipee!). A 4 foot Bredl would be easy by comparison, but it's definitely a 2-person job with one holding and one probing.

But don't people suggest NOT probing larger snakes?

 

[Ramsayi]

I guess trying to ascertain the sex of a python visually you would have a 50% chance of getting it right.

 

[Ships]

First I've heard of it, probing is fine with a steady hand and gentle pressure, remember that the organ is inverted so the probe is contacting the outside of the organ, in males anyway.

 

[pythonmum]

But don't people suggest NOT probing larger snakes?

No - same vet probed adult Darwins and an MD for me. He just used fine silicone tubing and KY jelly for that job. They didn't even notice it was happening.

 

[garthy]

No - same vet probed adult Darwins and an MD for me. He just used fine silicone tubing and KY jelly for that job. They didn't even notice it was happening.

Ok good, I might just have to make a call and a day of it, to ensure I purchase the right sexed mate.

 

[pythons73]

I guess trying to ascertain the sex of a python visually you would have a 50% chance of getting it right.

Well the odds are pretty good,50% chance of getting it right,the other 50%getting it wrong...

 

[waruikazi]

No doubt. I wasn't berrating anyone, like you i wanted to know why or how someone could sex an animal that way.

I'm not all about starting arguments but i do think people should be accountable for what they say. In other words if someone asks why the poster said what they did, then they should be able to answer. It goes a long way to showing how credible the comment was.

waruikazi, I certainly appreciate when experienced herpers comment and this is why I posted here. I do not know anyone close by that could "safely and certainly" probe my animal. I will be endeavouring to get better photos (still haven't found the camera), but I am just after some "more expert than me" opinions. know I cannot take any opinions as certain but I am willing to listen.
Bring on debate...even if it doesn't have a definate outcome.

BTW, no hemipenes evident in shed skin and only very small spurs..