Sexing Question

[matthend]

I was told when I got him (?) that Spring is a male. Morti was showing me a way to feel the underside of the tail and you can feel the hemipenes in a male. Can someone enlighten me as to what it would feel like? I can feel something in there, probably about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long. I know this is not exact, just curious until I get to Morti and Ldydrgn's again to see their incredible collection. Thanks all, I greatly appreciate it.

[morti]

That is more of an anecdotal observation than a real method of determining gender. We have noticed that if you carefully run your finger down the tail, starting with the cloaca, you can usually feel the tips of the hemipenes in males. In reality, the only way to tell for sure is to pop extremely young snakes or probe any of them.

	Cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, urinary, and (usually) genital tracts of certain animal species.All birds, reptiles, and amphibians possess this orifice, from which they excrete both urine and feces

[matthend]

so tips of hemipenes plural? If I dont feel two then i lean slightly towards female? I realize this is at most a guesstimation, just trying to learn.
Thanks again, and what was the first snake you showed me on friday? Asian Rat?

[pituophislady]

I use this same technique. It's generally called sexing by rubbing. When you run your finger down the tail, the tips of the hemipenes should feel like hard little balls.

Amie

[pituophislady]

How big is the male that you're trying to sex?

Amie

[matthend]

he/she is just under 3 ft... 31 or 32 inches