Help sexing

[Simland]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could help me sex this Thamnophis sirtalis. To me, the tale looks like it's tapering steadily right from the cloaca. However, I thought the same thing for my other garter and I was told he's a male. Which has pretty much been confirmed by the fact that he has stopped growing and is nowhere near the size of a full grown female.

The taper on this one's tale, is very subtle, whether or not it actually starts at the cloaca, which makes it hard for me to be certain either way.

Its body is a bit on the thick side, which makes me think female, but it isn't thick enough for me to say that it's definitely one.

Also, don't be fooled by the thickness of the body where the last two fingers of my right hand are, on the second picture. That's a food lump.

What do you guys think? Youngish female or oldish make?

[Eddie]

I would say female but I have been wrong before

[Albert Clark]

I say female too! No apparent lateral bulging beyond the cloaca which would be indicative of hemipenes. Why don't you give us the dorsal view from the same vantage point?

[guidofatherof5]

My first impression was male as I(old eyes) don't see a steady taper from the cloaca/vent. I've seen many males with no prominent junk pouch.
I also see characteristics that say female. Body size and head structure say female.
I'm going with male. If I'm wrong then I say female.

[Simland]

I'm going with male. If I'm wrong then I say female.

Lol. You don't want to hedge your bet and say it could also be a hermaphrodite?

Is it unadvisable to pop your own snakes? If it isn't too risky, does anyone know where I could find good instructions? It looks easy, but...

[guidofatherof5]

No popping for that size/age snake. A competent person could probe the snake. Is it imperative you know right now? Do you have a breeding age female you could put this suspected male in with?

[Simland]

It's not necessarily imperative, but, if it's a male I'd probably try to replace it with a female or a younger male and there's not much time left for that. If it's a male, it's probably at least as old as my other one and (part of) the idea was to have a younger one so it won't near the end at the same time.

To add to the case: it seems to behave more like a female than like a typical male. It's a quiet snake compared to the usually more active males. And it doesn't seem lethargic, just quiet. But I guess it could be a "lazy" male.

Is there anything else we can look for? Maybe by feeling around the base of the tail without popping?

I don't have a female, only a male.

Out of curiosity, why no popping for a snake that age?

[indigoman]

I'm going with male, pair him up this spring and see the response.

[Tommytradix]

male

[guidofatherof5]

It's not necessarily imperative, but, if it's a male I'd probably try to replace it with a female or a younger male and there's not much time left for that. If it's a male, it's probably at least as old as my other one and (part of) the idea was to have a younger one so it won't near the end at the same time.

To add to the case: it seems to behave more like a female than like a typical male. It's a quiet snake compared to the usually more active males. And it doesn't seem lethargic, just quiet. But I guess it could be a "lazy" male.

Is there anything else we can look for? Maybe by feeling around the base of the tail without popping?

I don't have a female, only a male.

Out of curiosity, why no popping for a snake that age?

Spine, tail and cloaca damage can occur. Once they are older/larger probing is the chosen method from what I've been told. I don't pop or probe.