Sexing & Tail Length (Photos)

I've heard that sexing by tail length/shape is not accurate at all, but I've also heard that sometimes the differences are obvious enough for easy identification. (I've no clue, so I'll let you kind folks decide.)

I purchased this 2001 "Silver Queen" Ghost female online and she finally arrived today. She looks as pretty as any average Ghost female, but I'm not quite certain she is a female. (Which makes me question the "Silver Queen" label. Who knows? My eyes aren't trained for the subtle differences yet.)

There were individual photos of 1.1 SQ Ghosts pictured in the original advertisement, and I saved the photos of the female. I compared those original photos with my own photos taken shortly after her arrival. The two animals have completely different head/body markings.

So the only two reasons for the non-matching photos/animals are (1) the seller accidentally sent the male, or (2) the seller accidentally labeled the advertisement photos incorrectly.

Who knows? As long as this animal is female, I'm satisfied. (And since it usually takes this seller at least three days to return an email, I figured that in the meantime I could ask opinions here.)

Here are some photos...


Chris

I can pretty reliably visually sex by tail length in person but I'm useless at it by photos. I for 12 right out of 13 sexing a friends clutch recently!

Whatever it is, you have a beautiful snake there but it doesn't change the fact that you've been sold a different snake to the one you paid for. Now you have to decide what to do if you want to change it or what-not.

Goodluck.

Sorry, didn't proofread the last post and I noticed now how awful it was!

I'd say from the photos that my best guess would be male..but like I said, I'm not great at sexing from photos.

Well...maybe it's my passive personality...but I don't really mind the mixup. (As long as this animal is a FEMALE.) This animal has the same basic coloring as the animal advertised as the female, and both were supposed to be the same "Silver Queen" line of Ghost. (The female was purchased in 2001 from Mike's Motleys and the male was purchased in 2003 from Serpenco.)

Who knows? Mistakes happen. And as long as this is a FEMALE, I am satisfied with the purchase.

Chris

My guess was male too, but it's hard to tell from that photo. He/She sure is pretty though.

It looks like a "tweener" to me. I can see that snake going either way. :shrugs:

What would make a better photo? A closeup of the ventral area?

(And just so I know that I'm not mistaken, here's the originally advertised female. This is a different animal...correct?)

Chris

Yes, the head patterns are deffinately different...I'd say you got the prettier of the 2!!!

Fingers crossed for her turning out to be a girl after all.

Yah, that's not the same animal.

Have you emailed the seller and asked about this yet?

Yeah. I already emailed the seller, but it usually takes about three days for a response. So I'm not expecting a return email this week. I left him some messages on his cell phone earlier in the week to confirm shipping, but I only got the voicemail system. It's probably a busy time of the year, though. I'm sure the seller will respond soon.

(What am I going to do with a MALE? LOL)


Chris

CJBianco said:

(What am I going to do with a MALE? LOL)


Chris

Click to expand...

Send him to MEEEEE!

Okay. I've read a few threads and online care sheets on the subject. It looks like the female's tail is supposed to begin tapering at the vent, and the male's tail is supposed to remain thicker before tapering to allow for ample hemipene space.

This animal's tail clearly does not begin tapering until three or four scales after the vent. (This leads me to think: male.)

(Although, I also purchased a proven breeder adult MALE Amel Striped, and his tail is thin and seems to begin tapering at the vent. LOL)

Arrrggghhhhhhh!


Chris =)

CJBianco said:

Okay. I've read a few threads and online care sheets on the subject. It looks like the female's tail is supposed to begin tapering at the vent, and the male's tail is supposed to remain thicker before tapering to allow for ample hemipene space.

This animal's tail clearly does not begin tapering until three or four scales after the vent. (This leads me to think: male.)

(Although, I also purchased a proven breeder adult MALE Amel Striped, and his tail is thin and seems to begin tapering at the vent. LOL)

Arrrggghhhhhhh!


Chris =)

Click to expand...

Post more pics. Try to capture from at least six inches forward of the vent to the tail tip. Of course, this is no exact science. :awcrap:

You can't tell for sure just by tail shape, is there anyone near you that can probe? I've seen some females with tails similar to yours. Its not beefy enough to be a definate male so I wouldn't worry yet.

carol said:

You can't tell for sure just by tail shape, is there anyone near you that can probe? I've seen some females with tails similar to yours. Its not beefy enough to be a definate male so I wouldn't worry yet.

Click to expand...

I agree with Carol about the tweener bit. That tail is nowhere near as thick as most of my male's tails.

Here's a comparison shot for ya. This is a male.

LOL, nice chatroom background.

carol said:

LOL, nice chatroom background.

Click to expand...

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to comment.

Now I think it looks like a female.

(I have no clue about what I'm doing here. LOL)

How old is the snake? How big?

My males don't begin to taper for a good 10+ scales. By 15 scales out, a female is usually half the width she was at the vent, while a male is hardly less wide. The photos look female to me, but I'm the first to admit that tail sexing by photo is NOT my preferred method.

I'd probe her. :santa: