can you tell the sex of a snake by it's tail?

Answer 1

what does it matter? and why would you want to know?

Answer 2

Typically no you cant they need to be probed. However that is not always the case. I will share with everyone here a trick I picked up while catching colubribs when I was younger. Take a red-bellied snake for instance. Hold the snake up in front of you and look at it from the side. Locate the cloaca and keep looking from the side. If you noice a very sharp thinning of the tail directly after the cloaca it is a female. If you notice that directly after the cloaca it remains plump and then tapers off quickly, then it is a male. The reason this technique works (in some cases not all) is that the hemipenes are faced backward, making this lump visible in males only. Some boas also still retain the primitve vestigial remnants of limbs, males have these possibly to stimulate the female during copulation.
Hope that answers your question, Take care

Answer 3

Some snakes can be sexed by viewing external physical differences such as a longer or wider tail, etc. However, the most common and accurate methods are "Popping" and "Probing". Both methods are used to check for the male hemi-pene (the male sexual organ). In popping, pressure is applied at the tail and behind the cloaca to evert the hemipenes or scent glands of the female. This is by far the most accurate method because you can easily tell one from the other if done properly. Popping is usually done on newborn snakes, but can be done by older snakes if the person doing the procedure is experienced. Probing is a more common method, although not as accurate. With probing, a metal probe is inserted into the cloaca towards the tail and the distance the probe is inserted will usually tell the sex of the snake. Males typically probe deeper as the probe is inserted into a hemipene, and females will typically probe more shallow. The distance is measured in scales, and it depends on the species of snake.

Both procedures should only be performed by an experienced person such as a vet or breeder. If done improperly, you can damage the snake which can potentially be fatal.

Answer 4

SNAKE SEXING METHODS
by Alan W. Zulich.


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INTRODUCTION
One of the matters commonly misunderstood by novice snake enthusiasts is that most snakes can be sexed accurately and with minimal trauma to the animal. This paper will discuss two methods of sexing adult and juvenile snakes - probing and "popping" of the hemipenis.

SNAKE ANATOMY

Posterior to the cloaca, a pair of hemipenes are present in male snakes.





These are paired structures, and lie inverted on either side of the midline. In both male and female snakes, musk glands are also typically present.

SEX DETERMINATION BY PROBING

Sex can be determined in snakes by probing posterior to the cloaca, to determine the presence of hemipenes. Typical sexing probes are stainless steel and either ball-tipped or tapered on the end.





These are available as sets of different diameters and lengths from various suppliers.

The sexing process begins by selecting the probe of proper diameter. As mentioned above, the hemipenes are paired structures located on either side of the midline. By turning the snake over and visualizing their location and size, a proper probe diameter can be selected. Generally, a probe diameter equal to approximately one quarter of the anal plate is appropriate. Choice of too large a probe will prevent free movement of the probe within the hemipenis, while a probe too small will risk puncturing the posterior end of the hemipenis when probing.

After a probe is selected, it should be lightly lubricated with K-Y jelly, vaseline, mineral oil, or water. If the animal is to be probed just prior to breeding, care should be taken not to use a lubricant that contains a spermicide.

The tip of the lubricated probe should then be placed in the cloaca, on either side of the midline.

The probe is then rotated anteriorly, with gentle downward pressure.

If properly positioned, the probe will move posteriorly into the tail in both males and females.

Posterior pressure should be maintained until posterior travel stops.
The probe is marked at the spot where it enters the cloaca,
and the probe is slowly withdrawn.

The probe is then placed on top of the tail in the same position and depth it was inside the pocket,
and the depth of penetration assessed in terms of subcaudal scales.

Females of most species probe to a depth of approximately three subcaudal scales, and almost always less than eight,
while males probe nine or more subcaudals.


There are exceptions, and lists of typical probe depths for various species are given in other publications.

A safer method of sexing juvenile snakes is the "popping" of the male hemipenes. The animal is held inverted in the left hand, with gentle finger pressure just forward of the cloaca. The ball of the right thumb is placed on the tail, about twenty scales behind the cloaca. The right thumb is then rolled forward toward the cloaca. This pressure on the tail will cause the hemipenes of the male snake to be everted.

Photos can be seen at :http://www.pythons.com/probing.html

Answer 5

Depends on the species.
Some like kingsnakes are relatively easy. Others are next to impossible.

Inexperianced people should never try to "pop" a snake. And only young snakes should be "popped" anyway. Inexperianced people also should not probe the cloaca to sex their snake. You could end up damaging or killing the snake.

Find a snake breeder in your area & ask him/her to sex the snake for you.

Answer 6

It depends purely on the species. On some there is know way to tell other than probing. For pythons it is possible. On pythons and a few other snakes males have two "spurs" at thier anal grove. Other species do have distinctions like males haveing shorter tales but this can only be told if you are an expert on that species and have spent a long time examaning them. Probbing is the best most acurrate way to tell.

Answer 7

On ball pythons you can, on a male, the tail will be short and kind of stumpy, on a female the tail will be long and reach a nice point gradually. I'm not sure about other snakes though.

Answer 8

You actually need to lift the flap , where the snake poops from, it is located at what is considered the base of its tail. when you lift the flap if you see a little bump it is a male, if there is no bump it is a female, though some snakes you will have to feel for the bump because it is so small.

Answer 9

yes, but most people should not attempt it. probing is the only true way to tell a snakes sex. but some snakes are sexually dimorphic, bitis species for example the males have long tails females have short ones.

Answer 10

No! In snake tail has no concern with sexual dimorphism. Sex can be determined by examining cloaca at the base of tail by experts only.
In case of some birds and mammals, answer of your Q will be YES.

Answer 11

Yes, male snakes had two little legs on his tail used to hold his mate