Best way to sex baby Gartersnakes.

[DrKate]

What features let you visually identify the sex of a baby? What views would be most diagnostic in a photo? I ask because I had no idea that visually sexing juvenile garters was as reliable as folks here suggest. My babies were probed at a month old or so (by someone experienced at probing, with a very tiny probe) and both seemed to be males (there were females in the clutch so we did have a comparison). I've never popped any baby snake so I'm not going to try that. But if visual sexing is actually feasible, I'd certainly make a stab at taking some photos and submit them here for a second opinion...

[guidofatherof5]

What features let you visually identify the sex of a baby? What views would be most diagnostic in a photo? I ask because I had no idea that visually sexing juvenile garters was as reliable as folks here suggest. My babies were probed at a month old or so (by someone experienced at probing, with a very tiny probe) and both seemed to be males (there were females in the clutch so we did have a comparison). I've never popped any baby snake so I'm not going to try that. But if visual sexing is actually feasible, I'd certainly make a stab at taking some photos and submit them here for a second opinion...

Here's a link http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/bree...xing-pics.html Hope it helps.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Visual sexing only gets easy once you have seen enough garters. I have seen hundreds and hundreds between captivity and the wild, and I have sorted many a newborn litter, and it gets easier every time! After a while, it's just an automatic thing! At least, for me it is!

[DrKate]

OK, but what I meant was, what pictures should I take so that you experienced folk can give me a second opinion on the sex of my babies? It looks like a ventral view from the vent scale down is the critical one. Is a side view helpful too? I've noticed people talking about head morphology, but is that only for adults?

Mind you, I have no confidence that my boys (uh, "boys") will cooperate for the photo shoot, but I'll give it a try...

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Head shape and size will really only help you for adults. Looking at the tail is easiest in person on newborns, because unless you photograph every angle of the tail, and VERY clearly at that, you might still get the wrong answer. I know that if I was looking at pictures of my neonates it would be a lot harder. In person you can examine them from all angles at once and you can often clearly see the presence/lack of hemipenes. If you did want to take photos, ideally you would have clear, crisp shots of the vent and tail from both the side and the bottom. That would be your best shot at getting an accurate sex!

[charles parenteau]

I pop my babies snakes at 2 or 3 shed old they are big enough .I think this method is for advanced person,you can easily hurt the snake.At certain size I can sex them just by the look.

LAst week we sex 20 babies in less than 5 minutes.I have 10 thumbs so Im not very good with probe on small snake Im not use to probe.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Honestly, I don't think they make a probe small enough for baby garters anyway. It would have to be needle thin, which would be very sharp, and would surely injure the snake!!! I would never do it! Anyone who is considering popping, go to an expo and have people who know what they are doing teach you and show you how it's done, and don't dare try it until you are extremely confident about handling the snakes in this manner. Don't just try it on your own, it's not worth injuring a snake!

[Mike Spencer]

Honestly, I don't think they make a probe small enough for baby garters anyway. It would have to be needle thin, which would be very sharp, and would surely injure the snake!!! I would never do it! Anyone who is considering popping, go to an expo and have people who know what they are doing teach you and show you how it's done, and don't dare try it until you are extremely confident about handling the snakes in this manner. Don't just try it on your own, it's not worth injuring a snake!

I agree. I learned how to pop and probe from a seasoned breeder years ago. You can usually go to a herp store near you if there are no shows, and they'll either show you how to pop or probe, or they'll help you out and do it for you.