Are there some kind of visual signs to sex your ball python?

Question

I've just received an abused Ball Python (six years old), and there are no specialists in my area that I am aware of. I'm unsure of the sex, although I was told it was female but they weren't sure either. Are there some signs I can look for like a long tapered tale after the vent or a slight swelling around/after the vent or something like that? - On to the abuse part... She was kept in a VERY small cage and I'm afraid that she may have been stunted. I don't have a flex ruler so my best guess is that she's between 3 and 4 feet long. As I only own two other six month olds Balls, I'm not sure just how long she's supposed to be at six years. There doesn't appear to be any kinking in her spine, and aside from being EXTREMELY skittish, she seems to be in perfectly good health. Help, please, would be most welcomed.

Answer 1

Actually the first answer is accurate. Females usually have shorter and thicker tails and males usually have longer thinner tails. but the only way to tell 100% is by probing.

Good Luck :)

Answer 2

The above poster is not correct. That's a good way to sex COLUBRIDS (corn snakes, milksnakes, kingsnakes, etc.) but not ball pythons. You can check for spurs. If it has really large spurs (bony-feeling bumps on either side of the vent), it's most likely a male. This isn't always a good way to sex the ball python, though. Probing would be best. It's possible that her growth may have been stunted, but without knowing her exact age or size, I can't say.

Answer 3

The best was to tell if any large snake is male or female it to have it probed or popped. Popping is done by pressing the vent backward, towards the tail, if it is a male, you will see it's parts. Probing is done by taking a probe and sliding it into the vent. If the probe goes in and keeps going you have a male, if it stops and doesn't go in you have a female. But both of these should be done by a proffesional. You can hurt you snake if you do either of them wrong.

Answer 4

there is really no way to tell visually. you really need to probe it to be sure. the tail is a way to tell but its not completely accurate.



and as far as being in a small container isn't going to stunt growth and balls are big at 4 feet so shes ok.



be patient with it being skittish she should get over it soon enough.



good luck

Answer 5

Females have a shorter, thicker tail after the vent. Males are longer and taper quite fine. Give her love and food you can't change what happened in the past as far as nutrition but she will grow with healthy eating.