Growth rates...

[Zephyr]

After observing my garters today *and getting bit because of wormy hands in the process* I've noticed that the snakes that look female are developing the fastest, or are the largest at least. Can any one confirm this?

[drache]

from my limited experience I'd say so too

[adamanteus]

It seems to me that my males are growing fastest initially, then, after a couple of months, my females catch up and surpass them.

[Zephyr]

Ah. Thanks. So far I think I have 2 or 3 males, and the rest are females.
Lucky boys.

[Zephyr]

BTW, aside from the pic on Alan Francis's site, does any one have a good pic of the tails of male and female garters?

[adamanteus]

I don't think we have a truly definitive picture, clearly showing the difference in tail form between male and female, on the forum. We should. Maybe that's a job for some of our better photographers? Can someone try to get a really good picture to show the difference?

[Zephyr]

I actually find Alan's illustration really confusing...
I'll try and dig up some pics I have, and you can sex them James. :P

[Zephyr]

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2896/img0476zw7.jpg

http://img26.picoodle.com/img/img26/4/1/31/f_IMG0478m_68788a6.jpg

These are from 2 of my snakes last summer. I think these are two sexes.

[adamanteus]

That's a female.:)

[Zephyr]

That's a female.:)Both of those are females?

[adamanteus]

Yeah, sorry, I missed that they were different snakes. Both female.

[Zephyr]

http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/4/1/31/f_IMG0481m_1a86f32.jpg

[drache]

also female

[Zephyr]

So wait...
Males have short tails, females have long?

[Josh]

vice versa

[Zephyr]

Well, if you were to visually see the size of the above snakes, from that description, the first was a female and the second two were males.

Gah, so confusing.

[Sid]

The last two are both females. You can see the more drastic or sudden taper right after the vent. The first you can see the taper, but not as drasticly....could be a male, but I'm leaning toward female on it as well.

[Zephyr]

I'm pretty sure the first is a male. Even though he/she was 3 feet long. >>
My fish keeping friend gave me one last way to sex animals if you're really not sure:
The way the animal present itself. He said mainly males will be more confident in their movements, presenting themselves upright and proud for the ladies most of the time.
And this snake certainly did that.

[drache]

to clarify
it's not long versus short tails
it's how much of a change there is at the vent
males' tails taper gradually after the vent, whereas females' get suddenly narrower

I can't say that I've ever noticed gender specific behavior or personalities in snakes

[gregmonsta]

Look for a bulge tail length isn't always definate ... bulges or comparison to a known female are better :) ... ahem ... this bulge is a little exaggerated :P

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/sex.JPG

[drache]

that bulge is a lot exaggerated
there's something wrong with that snake
blue balls?

[enigma200316]

that bulge is a lot exaggerated
there's something wrong with that snake
blue balls?




oh my, I can't stop laughing, thats is some funny sh+t right there....:D:D

[gregmonsta]

that bulge is a lot exaggerated
there's something wrong with that snake
blue balls?

Bruising could most definateley explain this phenomenon :eek:

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

or maybe hes just gifted? :D

[Zephyr]

or maybe hes just gifted? :DHe's already got 2 of them, how much more gifted could he be? XD

[GarterGuy]

Yeh, I'd have to agree with the others, all three look like females to me. If you look at them, the tail tapers sharply after the vent.....if they're male, you'd have the tail increase slightly in width or not taper so quickly. To be 100% sure, you'd have to take them to the vet or to an experianced snake breeder and have them probed.