Male/Female Behavior Differences?

[d_virginiana]

I'm home on fall break, so I'm getting to spend lots of time with my babies! They celebrated by both shedding two days before I got in. As soon as Houdini smelled my hand in his cage he practically jumped up into it; so cute! As a bonus, my break fell in the middle of a fall salamander run, so I've even been able to do a bit of herping as well.

Harley is getting BIG. She's right at a foot long, so we're starting to be able to really take her out and handle her without worrying about her getting away or hurting her (my parents aren't as comfortable handling the snakes as I am). But getting her out more, I've noticed she's just so DOCILE! She's content to just sit on my lap and look around, or let me hold her. It's so different from Houdini, who's constantly moving.

I've heard that males are generally more active than females, but is the difference normally that noticeable? What sort of differences have you guys noticed? Just wondering if I can expect that sort of behavior from any new babies I might end up with... The other option being that Houdini has ADHD, which is entirely possible.. lol

[kibakiba]

I have found that my females are a lot more calm, while my males just want to move constantly. Mama changed after giving birth, and she's more like snakey was, and he's been calming down a lot more. Today, he's been sleeping on my chest and nose a lot, its almost like he's trying to comfort me. I think he's just getting old, though.

[guidofatherof5]

Males as a rule on the Ranch are much more active/skittish.
My females are calmer and more trusting and seem to seek out company.

[kibakiba]

Snakey seems to seek company at times, he slithers into my hands when he wants to be held, as my girls do, but Snakey is a bit different than anyone else here

[infernalis]

Yep, same here.. the ladies are the calm ones.

There are exceptions, I have a few males that are super chillin' and I have a couple females that are nasty hand biting demons.

[d_virginiana]

I had heard that there was a difference before, but I didn't think it'd be quite as big! Houdini is by far the friendlier one, he's just really active. Haha, my fiance who has never handled a snake other than Houdini actually got really worried that Harley was sick because she was just sitting in his hand like that lol.

[RedSidedSPR]

I only have males, and they're all different... But all are active and always move around, like your Houdini.

Spooner, My adult red sided is a chilled, laid back snake, but active and isn't exactly calm... Just sweet and cooperative. Active especially in the later part of the day.

Smoke My baby anery red sided is also really active, but also really laid back and very calm. Doesn't hold still once you pick him io though..

Red, My baby flame, little less "tame" but relatively calm, but not quite as active. But he's an absolute NUT at feeding time.

Oscar, My checkered hides when I'm around, and bites, musks, and poops when I pick him up. Jerk.

Rooster. My concinnus. Now this is a awesome snake. He is active. ALL. DAY. He is calm. IMPOSSIBLY calm. He is fearless of me. He doesn't panic if you set him down or anything. He is big. (fearless and big -- like Rooster Cogburn!!) I feed the others in cage, I just set him on the desk and let him help himself. You wouldn't believe how "tame" this snake is. Sees me as a good thing. I love him. oh, and SMART SMART SMART.

males are supposedly all jumpy and stuff -- mine arent.

[kibakiba]

Snakey isn't jumpy, he's trusting enough to randomly stick his head in my nose, mouth and ears, and he just likes to hang out, he just likes to move more.

[JosvdB]

Would you say males like to climb more than females? I'm finishing of a pretty high tank and I'm still trying to decide wether to put males or females in. I want to go with females because they're quite a bit bigger and will better fill out the tank but if they won't climb and just stay at the bottom it will be a waste of the tank.

[chris-uk]

We've got female checkereds and blacknecks in a viv where they can climb, and they do. They're still young enough that we haven't separated the male blackneck, he climbs as much as the females. We also have a female Cuitzeo, she never climbs.

If you're looking for snakes to climb and make the most of a tall viv, species is more important than sex. You didn't say what sort of garter you were going to put in there.