Things You'll Need:
- Snake
- Probes
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Step 1
Male snakes have two penises, referred to as hemipenises. When not in use, they are stored inside out, pointed backwards towards the tail. In some snakes, it is possible to place your thumb just below the cloaca and gently roll it forwards and have one or more of the hemipenises pop out. However, this step takes practice and does not work all the time, even if the snake is male.
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Step 2
Another method is to compare the length of the snake's tail past the vent. In general, males have longer tails than females. Some species also have sexual dimorphism in size. In boas and pythons, females tend to be larger. In rattlesnakes and kingsnakes, males tend to be larger.
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Step 3
The most reliable method of sex determination is to probe the snake. Special probes for this purpose can be purchased at reptile supply houses on the internet. The more snakes you probe, the better your judgment will be.
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Step 4
Most snakes do not like being probed, and so it helps if you have a partner who can hold the rest of the snake for you. The best method of restraint is to insert the front half of the snake into a sturdy cardboard or plastic tube that is small enough in diameter so it can't turn around inside.
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Step 5
First grasp the snake firmly just in front of the vent. Gently slide the probe in on one side of the cloaca, running it towards the tail. Count how many rows of scales you can easily push the probe past. This will vary depending on size and species, but again, the males will probe deeper than the females.
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Step 6
Without actually seeing the hemipenises pop out yourself, there's no substitute for experience.
