sexing

[shimmer]

I recently bought a large ball python in bad conditions at petsmart and need help sexing it. The tail looks like someone smashed it with a meat tenderizer . I do not know how to pop and the snake is in shed. I already have a baby female and I tried to compare spirs. The big one's curve inward and are pretty long while the baby's are straight and very short. I would appreciate a picture of adult male and female spirs if anyone has any at all.

[LadyOhh]

Spurs are not an indicator of sex.

You need to have someone who knows what they are doing pop or probe your animal to accurately determine the genders of your animals.

[frankykeno]

Considering the shape the snake is in from your description you probably want to have it seen by a vet experienced in working with snakes. Have that injury assessed, a general health check, the vet can sex the snake for you at that time and at some point likely you should get a fecal float done as well to rule out internal parasites.

You mentioned you have another BP. Remember strict quarantine is a good thing.

[shimmer]

The snake is in shed and is about 2.5-3.5 ft long. It has a really fat body and I tried to pop it with no luck. I did feel the tail and I also watched a video about carmel morphs. The snake's tail looks more like it has kinks then broken bones.
I have the two snakes seperated becaues the baby I have is only 18 inches long and I was afraid they would fight. The little one still keep me up because she wanted to see the other snake.
I planned on taking the snake to a friend who had owned almost every species of snake possible.

[Inknsteel]

*Slips on the kid gloves*

Ok, first, if the snake was rescued from poor conditions, not even considering the tail, you need to make a vet appointment to have the snake checked out. Given the description of the tail, you REALLY need to get it checked out by a vet, not just "a friend who had owned almost every species of snake possible." Without actually being able to see the tail, I would wager a guess that it's possible it is or could soon be infected. Bottom line is that you NEED to have that snake seen by a herp vet. While you're there having that looked at, you can ask the vet to sex the snake for you, and even show you how to do it for yourself also.

Secondly, you definitely need to be practicing a strict quarantine when introducing a new animal into your collection, especially so being that you know the snake was in a bad way when you got it. Quarantine does not just mean putting the snake in its own enclosure. You need to put the snake in a separate room, as far away from your current collection as possible. Always handle the new snake AFTER handling your current collection. Do not allow them to have any contact for the first 60-90 days MINIMUM. There's a lot more to it, which you can find by searching back posts on quarantine.

After a clean bill of health from the vet and a good quarantine period, it is safe to bring the new addition into your collection. Reading your original post however, it sounds like you intend to house the snakes in the same enclosure. BAD idea, for MANY reasons that have been hashed out several times on this forum. Do a search for previous threads and you will find a multitude of reasons that this is bad practice. One snake, one enclosure. The exception being breeding season, when males are introduced to a female STRICTLY for breeding, then moved back to his own enclosure.

Having said that, find a herp vet and make an appointment. While you're waiting for your appointment, spend some time reading and researching on this forum, and educate yourself on how best to care for these wonderful animals.

PS - Welcome to the site...

[darkangel]

The snake is in shed and is about 2.5-3.5 ft long. It has a really fat body and I tried to pop it with no luck. I did feel the tail and I also watched a video about carmel morphs. The snake's tail looks more like it has kinks then broken bones.
I have the two snakes seperated becaues the baby I have is only 18 inches long and I was afraid they would fight. The little one still keep me up because she wanted to see the other snake.
I planned on taking the snake to a friend who had owned almost every species of snake possible.

Well, putting them together is not really necessary or recommended for a multitude of reasons... Not to mention the reason that you need to be practicing quarantine! Get that baby to the vet!

[shimmer]

I took the snake to the petsmart vet and was there the entire time they examined it. The store had the snake for three weeks and had already done parasite tests on it. I had it probbed and its a male. I even had them do x-rays on the tail and nothing is broken just kinked. The snake is in good health considering the conditions it was living in. I have put him in another room just in case.

[starmom]

*Slips on the kid gloves*

Ok, first, if the snake was rescued from poor conditions, not even considering the tail, you need to make a vet appointment to have the snake checked out. Given the description of the tail, you REALLY need to get it checked out by a vet, not just "a friend who had owned almost every species of snake possible." Without actually being able to see the tail, I would wager a guess that it's possible it is or could soon be infected. Bottom line is that you NEED to have that snake seen by a herp vet. While you're there having that looked at, you can ask the vet to sex the snake for you, and even show you how to do it for yourself also.

Secondly, you definitely need to be practicing a strict quarantine when introducing a new animal into your collection, especially so being that you know the snake was in a bad way when you got it. Quarantine does not just mean putting the snake in its own enclosure. You need to put the snake in a separate room, as far away from your current collection as possible. Always handle the new snake AFTER handling your current collection. Do not allow them to have any contact for the first 60-90 days MINIMUM. There's a lot more to it, which you can find by searching back posts on quarantine.

After a clean bill of health from the vet and a good quarantine period, it is safe to bring the new addition into your collection. Reading your original post however, it sounds like you intend to house the snakes in the same enclosure. BAD idea, for MANY reasons that have been hashed out several times on this forum. Do a search for previous threads and you will find a multitude of reasons that this is bad practice. One snake, one enclosure. The exception being breeding season, when males are introduced to a female STRICTLY for breeding, then moved back to his own enclosure.

Having said that, find a herp vet and make an appointment. While you're waiting for your appointment, spend some time reading and researching on this forum, and educate yourself on how best to care for these wonderful animals.

PS - Welcome to the site...

Excellent post-- kid gloves suit you

[frankykeno]

*Slips on the kid gloves*

Ok, first, if the snake was rescued from poor conditions, not even considering the tail, you need to make a vet appointment to have the snake checked out. Given the description of the tail, you REALLY need to get it checked out by a vet, not just "a friend who had owned almost every species of snake possible." Without actually being able to see the tail, I would wager a guess that it's possible it is or could soon be infected. Bottom line is that you NEED to have that snake seen by a herp vet. While you're there having that looked at, you can ask the vet to sex the snake for you, and even show you how to do it for yourself also.

Secondly, you definitely need to be practicing a strict quarantine when introducing a new animal into your collection, especially so being that you know the snake was in a bad way when you got it. Quarantine does not just mean putting the snake in its own enclosure. You need to put the snake in a separate room, as far away from your current collection as possible. Always handle the new snake AFTER handling your current collection. Do not allow them to have any contact for the first 60-90 days MINIMUM. There's a lot more to it, which you can find by searching back posts on quarantine.

After a clean bill of health from the vet and a good quarantine period, it is safe to bring the new addition into your collection. Reading your original post however, it sounds like you intend to house the snakes in the same enclosure. BAD idea, for MANY reasons that have been hashed out several times on this forum. Do a search for previous threads and you will find a multitude of reasons that this is bad practice. One snake, one enclosure. The exception being breeding season, when males are introduced to a female STRICTLY for breeding, then moved back to his own enclosure.

Having said that, find a herp vet and make an appointment. While you're waiting for your appointment, spend some time reading and researching on this forum, and educate yourself on how best to care for these wonderful animals.

PS - Welcome to the site...

I agree - excellent post, well worded, balanced and informative!

To the OP, I'm glad the snake was seen and it's nothing more than a kink which I'm sure if it were any sort of problem the vet would have informed you at that time. Do watch to make sure the snake is able to move, defecate, etc. as would be expected but since it's not a hatchling it's obviously done fine so far.

Remember snakes are not social creatures by their very nature. Neither of your snakes needs nor likely wants any companionship from the other. That sort of need is more of a human expression or seen in animals that are from herd or pack social structures.

[shimmer]

I will not house snakes together unless their breeding and both balls are to young for that. The male moves around fine, when the vet probbed him he could move his tail around so he probable will not have problems deficating.