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Sexing by counting the subcaudal scales?

Hi!
I've been following this thread since I happened upon it a few weeks ago, but since my Tallie had only had sheds that had come in pieces, I hadn't anything to count and she is way too wiggly to hold still even to take a pic in that region. So yesterday imagine my surprise when she finally shed in a nice, long piece! I took my reading glasses, my roommate's magnifying glass and a bright light and after trying and losing count what must of been 10 times, I came up with 68 pairs and I triple checked the count. So, I was right about my feeling that she was female and then when I had read about being able to sex a snake by the shape of the tail if you didn't probe or pop. I am very excited as now I can get a male with more confidence than I had just by looking at her tail.
 
nytesong said:
and after trying and losing count what must of been 10 times,
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Back when I used this method regularly I'd use an extra fine sharpie and mark off every 50 scales. That way if I messed up I didn't have to recount the entire skin, just 50 scales back.

D80
 
Drizzt80 said:
Back when I used this method regularly I'd use an extra fine sharpie and mark off every 50 scales. That way if I messed up I didn't have to recount the entire skin, just 50 scales back.

D80
Click to expand...

I should have thought of this! All I have though is one of those giant shipping markers. I'll have to invest in a superfine sharpie for my future endeavors, lol!
 
Great thread!

Another way to get the count is to put your snake into a clear tub....as soon as they settle down lift up the container and look at the bottom....you can either take a picture really fast or if your snake is chilled out just count them like that....
(hope you don't mind me posting a pic...even though it's not that great of a shot)
100_5862.jpg
 
Hey Lisa!
What a fantastic idea! I see your snake's belly is lacking much of a checkerboard; is that something that you breed in/out or was it just the luck of the draw? I am so fascinated by all of the colors that corn snakes come in. I just love how bright my Tallie is! I had never seen such pretty snakes before I came across corn snakes. Mostly here in the desert we have good old rattle snakes and every so often a king snake will wander through.
Have you been breeding long or are you just starting? I really want to get another snake so I can give a go at breeding, but my roommate has threatened to leave if I do as I go to visit my Mom 400 miles away for 3 weeks twice a year and she is absolutely terrified of snakes, so....I guess I just get to have Tallie for now. She is the best though (Tallie, that is, lol) and I am really having a great time watching her grow. Last night I was wandering through the pictures here and I saw a full grown Miami male. He seemed huge! Tallie is still only 29 inches, so she's yet a youngster. I wonder what she'll look like when she is another year! :eek:
Sorry to ramble; you've very good skills at photography to get that picture!

Cheers! Helaine
 
nytesong said:
I should have thought of this! All I have though is one of those giant shipping markers. I'll have to invest in a superfine sharpie for my future endeavors, lol!
Click to expand...

When I've used ventral counts, I've actually used a very fine felt-tip pen to write the number on every tenth scale (and a dot every five) - with African house snakes, the ventral count is important to work out which of three related species you have, and if I've got the number written on the scale I won't lose count.

I'm not sure it'd work on the subcaudal tail scales, mind you - they're TEENY!
 
nytesong said:
Hey Lisa!
What a fantastic idea! I see your snake's belly is lacking much of a checkerboard; is that something that you breed in/out or was it just the luck of the draw?

Cheers! Helaine
Click to expand...

Thanks Helaine :) I've raised both parents sense they were small babies(Normal male and Blizzard female). I bred them last year for the first time and everything turned out great....and with getting this pretty baby with almost no belly checks and a brother with half missing I thought I'd try and see if it happens again. I will be breeding this baby in the future for sure.

I agree....what drew me in to Corns was all the bright and not so bright colors! They are all just beautiful!
 
hmmm interesting, just tried it and with me not being sure whether the last few are pairs, I counted it in two different ways (just the way my brain works). the first way was 74 and the second around 84ish, so if I go with either its a boy
 
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