How to Know If a Ball Python Is a Boy or Girl

How to Know If a Ball Python Is a Boy or Girl. Before choosing to breed a pet ball python, it is essential to know the sex of your snake. Determining the sex on a snake can be difficult for the amateur reptile enthusiast and may require the assistance of a veterinarian or herpetologist. There are some general differences between male and female ball pythons such as size and girth, but using those differences to determine the sex can be inaccurate.

Step 1

Compare the overall size (length and girth) with other ball pythons that are the same approximate age as your snake. Females tend to be longer and thicker than males.

Step 2

Locate the anal spurs or evolutionary leg remnants on the underside of your snake. Larger, more curved spurs tend to indicate the snake is male.

Step 3

Take your python to a veterinarian or herpetologist to have its cloaca probed. A cloacal probe will be inserted into the posterior of the snake. If the probe passes a certain distance into the tail of the python such as eight to 16 subcaudal scales, it will be determined to be male.

Warnings

• Do not attempt to probe your python yourself if you do not have prior experience. Your snake can be injured or die from poor probing techniques.

References

• Kingsnake: Troubleshooting Guide to Ball Pythons
• The Snake Keeper: Ball Python F.A.Q.
• Vida Preciosa International, Inc.; Determining the Sex of Snakes; Dave and Tracy Barker; 2006