How to Identify the Sex of a Snake

How to Identify the Sex of a Snake. If you have a pet snake, you may be curious about its sex. Because snakes have internal reproductive organs, telling their gender can be a challenge for an inexperienced handler. Fortunately, there are several methods, both visual and physical, that you can use to determine your snake's sex or that you can ask an expert to perform.

Step 1

In very young snakes that have just recently hatched, use a method called "popping" to look for its hemipenes (reproductive organs). You should only do this if you are skilled at handling snakes because doing it improperly could cause injury to the snake. A demonstration of popping can be found on the PetClub U.K. website listed in the Resources.

Step 2

Compare photos of male and female snakes that are the same species as your snake to see which characteristics it exhibits. Visual comparison is the safest method for the snake, as physical methods to expose the reproductive organs all carry some risk of injury.

Step 3

Notice the shape of the snake. Male snakes tend to have a longer and thicker tale, with a different shape than a female. It is thick and then suddenly thins out rather than tapering evenly down to the tip.

Step 4

Probe the snake, or have an expert do it for you. This means using a thin metal probe, inserting it through the snake's cloaca. The probe will go farther into a male because it has more space for its hemipenes. You should only do this if you have the proper skills, or you can badly injure the snake. Otherwise, have a reptile veterinarian do it.

Step 5

Consult a veterinarian or zoologist. Professionals who have experience handling snakes will know the specific signs of gender in various species and will recognize subtle differences that an inexperienced person can easily miss.

Warnings

• If you are a first-time snake owner or are inexperienced at handling reptiles, don't try to sex your snake on your own. Not only could you injure the snake, but you could be injured yourself if it sees you as a threat and bites or attacks you.