Need sexing help, please--photos inside

[jitami]

I was going to say male/male. The first one seems pretty obvious, the bend right at the vent on the second makes it difficult to tell if it's starting to taper right there or stays the same width.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

they look thin... are they possibly ribbon snakes?


I am going with 1 male, 2- female.

[Loren]

I'm not too practiced at sight sexing, but I also thought 1- male and 2- probably fm on first glance.

[ssssnakeluvr]

kinda looks like both are males...can't quite see enough on the 2nd photo to be sure...not real large, both appear to taper the same...

[Tess]

Thank you, all, and thanks for the welcome! After I had them for two and a half days, I tried a few different foods (pinkies, pinkies scented with nightcrawlers, pinkies scented with minnows, plain ol' nightcrawler chunks, and minnows.) Sooner than I would usually try food with a new snake, but with the weather turning here in Wisconsin I didn't want to keep them too long if they weren't going to feed for me. The smaller one, which is the bottom picture, ate like a champ right off--first a chunk of nightcrawler, then a pinkie scented with nightcrawler.

The larger one (top picture) wouldn't eat anything, seemed very stressed, and didn't calm at all. Since he? was so big and lovely (and since I know he has lived under the front porch happily for at least three or so years now, by size and knowing him by sight from the scar on his tail) I felt bad for him and released him right where I found him.

I am far too attached to the wee one already to let her? go...lol. And she ate so marvelously, and is so active and curious. After corns, she's really something amazing to watch as far as activity goes. So I think I have a new snake. I will get some more pics very soon.

Thanks again!

[jitami]

Welcome to this wonderful world of garters & their keepers Sounds like you made a sound decision... awesome that the wee one ate so well for you! After hearing how well she eats I'm changing my answer to female Kidding, but these girls seem to really enjoy their food!

[Snake lover 3-25]

pics from the side are easier to tell by..... but those pics are great quality

[Garter_Gertie]

Welcome, Tess! Nice to have you join us. Where abouts in WI are you?

[Tess]

We're a bit north of Green Bay.

Nice to meet all of you, as well!

By the way, the garter (who has been dubbed "Shannon," as we figure that will work for either sex) is visiting the local reptile vet next Wednesday to have a fecal float/general lookover and to be sexed.

I will report back to let you all know what was right! (I am sort of thinking female, but, I am very inexperienced!)

[Tess]

The garter pictured in the bottom/second picture turned out to be male, for those that were interested.