VPI blood "female"...not so much????

This thread is following up to my post yesterday about just receiving a new "female" albino blood from VPI. She just came in Friday afternoon straight from VPI themselves. I've been keeping an eye on the right side of her lower lip, which seemed deviated inwards to me since receiving her. I was able to get a good look inside and it doesn't appear as though it's caught on any teeth or there is anything obstructing in any way. Any thoughts?

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...bik/mouth1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...bik/mouth2.jpg

THEN...she was getting a bit upset naturally and began to void. I had a look at her vent and noticed some vascularization that appeared as hemipenes beginning to evert. I decided to pop her. "She" now appears to have transformed into a "he"????????

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/mqubik/vent1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/mqubik/vent2.jpg

Thoughts???

Hmmm, sure looks like a male.

Looks like she struck something with her face. You said she was pretty flighty. I would assume it will work itself out.

I'm thinking the mouth thing is no big deal, a simple realignment that hasn't happened yet.

The sex change though, that one would prompt me to contact the seller unless the sex of the snake was irrelevant.

I am hoping the lip issue is just superficial. We will see if it works itself out and I don't expect it to last long term.
Obviously, the "male" issue however is not such a short-term problem :)
Naturally, I'm pretty concerned about this so I've been in contact with Tracy.

If you listened to Kara last night on Reptile Radio - female bloods look a lot like males and evert what look just like hemipenes. Hopefully she'll see this and can comment more on that.

In the meantime, download the show and listen to what she has to say about it in more detail.

I had a male come in from Tracy. He struck and hit his face on his quarantine tub. Did a little number like yours did. He worked it back out in a couple days.

I'm also sure Tracy will resolve your situation.

Thanks, I've heard this previously too in regards to hemipenes everting and appearing as males. Althought typically I believe males are obviously more vascular than females, and appear as such.
I will definitely have a listen to the show - thanks!

Robin, she talked about the females everting more pinkish colored "stuff" while the males would evert darker red and purple-ish hemipenes.

She also stated that the "hemipenal" shapes that are everted between males and females are also different in shape. Females having more cylindrical type, while males will almost "flare" out at the end.

I would email those pics to Tracy to see what she has to say.

I have been in contact with Tracy about the lip issues - she's been a great help.
This hemipene issue however is a new one...I have already e-mailed her with the pictures so I'm awaiting a response.

I've been in contact with Tracy the last few days myself, for a different matter, and given the kindness she's shown me I'm sure that if a mixup's been made they'll make it right. I've had my head buried in the sand or something this last year, I can't believe I hadn't dealt with them yet. Definite asset to the hobby.

Still one gorgeous snake though!

In regards to the lip issue -- take a real close look at it. Last weekend my boa struck at the glass front of his cage during feeding time and came away looking just like that. I pulled him out to take a closer look a couple days later after he had calmed down and it turned out that one of his teeth had actually pierced his lip and was caught on it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by m00kfu

In regards to the lip issue -- take a real close look at it. Last weekend my boa struck at the glass front of his cage during feeding time and came away looking just like that. I pulled him out to take a closer look a couple days later after he had calmed down and it turned out that one of his teeth had actually pierced his lip and was caught on it.

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Yup, it wasn't very obvious either! We were'nt completely sure if that was it, but once I grabbed his lip with some stats and pulled it up and backwards to try and get it off the tooth, it came right off and was neatly fixed.

Thanks guys, I'll have to get a closer look at that lip.
We managed to get "her" in a snake bag and I was able to get a pretty good look and open up the mouth with a probe. It wasn't apparent to me that there was a tooth stuck on anything but she did start getting a little stressed - urinated and that's when I saw the "penes" so I'll give her a little breather and check back to see if I missed anything the first time.

Best of luck with your new snake! I think the lip issue will "fix" itself. I wonder if they sent you the wrong snake. VPI will make it right.

get a male of the same age and pop it....