Gather Round kids, It's story time.

Funny story.

So, about 3 and a half years ago I purchased a female spider ball python at NARBC Tinley. She was from a reputable breeder that did not specialize in ball pythons, but she was an exceptionally nice looking spider, so I went for it. She has been a great snake and at 1200g, I thought she might be ready to breed this fall.

This past month she has been completely refusing food. She would sniff it.. wobble intensely, then back away. I don't understand!!! So close to the 1500g mark I am willing to do anything to get her to eat. We've tried live, f/t, various sizes, changing her tub, adding crumpled paper...Nothing. :confusd:

So today I try pairing her with my male pinstripe to see if that might jump start her.


I guess in a way it did.


I hear thrashing in the tub.:O They are indeed combatting like two males. I pull out my "female" spider and probe her. Sure enough, MALE!!!!!:rofl:

I don't know why I didn't probe sooner!!! All these years I have been calling him Charlotte. It feels so strange now that I know she is actually a he!! Its like one of your best girl friends comes up to you one day and confesses she is actually a he!

So now it looks like I will only be having 3 possible clutches this season. Darn!! I was really hoping to make some bees or spinners or something! What a bummer!!

So, any name suggestions for my now male Spider? :please:

Dam that's got to suck haha. What a disappointment. As for the name, no idea, i'm bad with names haha

How about Charley? Its pretty close to charolette LOL. I know how you feel. I just found out that my 2000+ g pastel is a male!! I thought my spider was stupid and couldn't figure out what to do. Turns out he just doesn't like guys!!! :rofl:I also found out that my citrus pastel is also a male so now I have one 150g normal female and 5 MALES!!! UGH... so frustrating but a beginners mistake on my part...

I already have a cat named charlie... Might get confusing XD

Considering calling him Spiderman so I never forget his gender. LOL


As for beginner mistakes, this was probably a beginner mistake on my part. I was relatively new to the hobby when I bought him and I didn't know how to probe or pop at the time.

Oh well!!

Chuck.

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Originally Posted by arialmt

Chuck.

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This was what I was going to say.... How bout Peter?

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Originally Posted by Andybill

This was what I was going to say.... How bout Peter?

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My pewter is named peter!

Haha I have so many snakes to name, all the cool ones are taken :P

This is the reason before i buy a snake the breeder needs to pop the snake infront of me, then before i leave their table i pop it my self:gj: sorry for the bad luck, how about Jake?

That sucks. :(

All these stories about females turning out to be males makes me think I should learn to prob so I can check all of 1000+ gram "girls". :(

I like the name spiderman. I think it's fitting. :P

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Originally Posted by Kinra

That sucks. :(

All these stories about females turning out to be males makes me think I should learn to prob so I can check all of 1000+ gram "girls". :(

I like the name spiderman. I think it's fitting. :P

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When I get home I am probing everyone.

The thing is, I could have sworn I already probed everyone!! Guess not D:

It is super easy to learn. I should have brought my kit to the show and taught you! its really hard to do wrong unless you apply too much pressure.

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Originally Posted by 1nstinct

This is the reason before i buy a snake the breeder needs to pop the snake infront of me, then before i leave their table i pop it my self:gj: sorry for the bad luck, how about Jake?

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I wish I would have known better! Now I always have the snake sexed before I leave, and when I get home I probe before they go into QT.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

When I get home I am probing everyone.

The thing is, I could have sworn I already probed everyone!! Guess not D:

It is super easy to learn. I should have brought my kit to the show and taught you! its really hard to do wrong unless you apply too much pressure.

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I can pop and that's usually how I check, I think I've popped all of my snakes at some point. For some reason pushing something out seemed safer than sticking something in so I learned popping first.

I hope that your spider is the only one who isn't what he/she was as. :please:

I have bought 6 new balls while in Afghanistan and plan to probe them all once I get home. For that matter I plan to probe the snakes that I already have just to be sure! I think I've gotten sperm plugs from my male pastel and I popped both females that I currently own but why not check with probes to be sure, right? Sorry to hear that and better luck with your next pickups. :(

I think everyone should learn to properly sex their snakes well before ever pairing them.
Trusting other people to sex your snakes is well, a great way to one day make a post like this one...

Sorry :(

Maybe his name should be chuckles :D

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

I think everyone should learn to properly sex their snakes well before ever pairing them.
Trusting other people to sex your snakes is well, a great way to one day make a post like this one...

Sorry :(

Maybe his name should be chuckles :D

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I made sure to learn how to sex before I even thought about breeding. I just never sexed this particular snake! There is nothing I can do about it now. I learned to sex years after I got the snake.

The funny thing is I could have sworn I probed all my females this year before I started pairing. I might have forgot to probe the spider since "she" was fasting.

So far I have had pretty good luck getting what I paid for. This is only the first mis-sexed animal I have purchased, and I didn't even realize it til this morning! But it really helps clear up a lot of things: Why he looks so tiny next to other females of a similar size and why he isn't eating at the moment. At least I can stop worrying!

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Originally Posted by gsarchie

I have bought 6 new balls while in Afghanistan and plan to probe them all once I get home. For that matter I plan to probe the snakes that I already have just to be sure! I think I've gotten sperm plugs from my male pastel and I popped both females that I currently own but why not check with probes to be sure, right? Sorry to hear that and better luck with your next pickups. :(

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Fortunately, all my new pickups are the correct genders. I probed them all before they went into QT.

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Originally Posted by Kinra

I can pop and that's usually how I check, I think I've popped all of my snakes at some point. For some reason pushing something out seemed safer than sticking something in so I learned popping first.

I hope that your spider is the only one who isn't what he/she was as. :please:

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See, I just never felt comfortable popping. Probing is super easy for me so that is what I do. And it is very hard if not impossible to pop adults. Probing on the other hand is a piece of cake!

Me too.. Everyone (even the snakes I have sexed myself) will be getting probed when I get home.

How about "Wilbur" (from Charlotte's Web)?

What about Parker? Since Spidermans name was Peter Parker, and you already have a Peter? Sorry to hear about your boy. :(

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Thorax :rofl:

I like Parker!

I know most people are disappointed when they find out their females are males, but I'm trying not to let it bother me. There is nothing I can do to change who he is (gee I sound like a parent accepting that their child is gay or something, lol!) so I must make the most of it!

He doesn't really fit into my breeding plans..and makes me male heavy as far as breedable animals go, but I will find him a girlfriend!

I think I'm just going to try for a couple multi-sired clutches from my normal girls and pray that my pewter male gets with my pastel :)

Mojave, pin, and spider as backup.


I still can't believe all this time I never sexed this snake. I feel so bad for calling him a girl all these years. He probably isn't eating because he is mad at me :P

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

I like Parker!

I know most people are disappointed when they find out their females are males, but I'm trying not to let it bother me. There is nothing I can do to change who he is (gee I sound like a parent accepting that their child is gay or something, lol!) so I must make the most of it!

He doesn't really fit into my breeding plans..and makes me male heavy as far as breedable animals go, but I will find him a girlfriend!

I think I'm just going to try for a couple multi-sired clutches from my normal girls and pray that my pewter male gets with my pastel :)

Mojave, pin, and spider as backup.


I still can't believe all this time I never sexed this snake. I feel so bad for calling him a girl all these years. He probably isn't eating because he is mad at me :P

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Lol, he has a complex because his mother is disapointed in him and wanted a girl all along. Lol... :)


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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

Lol, he has a complex because his mother is disapointed in him and wanted a girl all along. Lol... :)


Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

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Haha Awww. I feel so bad!! He is still loved <3 He is a very beautiful snake, I don't plan on getting rid of him!!


Though now I am thinking about a breeder sized pin or spider..

Name him Mike!

ok ok i got a name, and i swear if you dont name him this, ill name my bee it. "snuffaluffagus" oor Snuffy for short hahahah

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Originally Posted by Knytemare

ok ok i got a name, and i swear if you dont name him this, ill name my bee it. "snuffaluffagus" oor Snuffy for short hahahah

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Thats a little lengthy for me, haha. Also sounds like some of my strange nicknames... Sniffles, steffles...Steffe..

L-O-L-A, Lola.......

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Originally Posted by BrandiR

L-O-L-A, Lola.......

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Funny, I was going to suggest "Sweet Loretta Martin" from the Beatles' "Get Back" (but she was another man)

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Originally Posted by BrandiR

L-O-L-A, Lola.......

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Thats my Bulldogs name lol

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Originally Posted by reptiliachnids

Thats my Bulldogs name lol

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What are you tryna tell us joey...? I hope you didnt name her accordingly lol.