Sexing,...?

[Cheshire_queen]

Hi I have had beardies in the past but never from hatchling size I've always gotten them at like 6 months to a year old and was curious at what size can you tell sex,... I'm about to purchase two babies and would hate to get two males and have to split them up later due to territory issues thanks for your time and any information helps

[maverickgtr]

When they're 8 inches or longer is when you are able to sex them. Also, keeping any gender beardies together can be iffy. Male-Female and Male-Male are very difficult especially once the Male-Female combo reaches breeding age as the male will overbreed the female. I believe someone said Female-Female is better but one will dominate the other and you'll need to have two of everything anyway. Two basking spots, two cool spots, two feeding areas, etc. If you've already been told all this sorry, just covering the bases.

[LOSTCOAST_BALLZ]

its all about the shape of the vent. google it and you will find several of great examples there is one imparticular that has red lines outlining the important areas

[maverickgtr]

If you hold the tail up at about a 90* angle [lift the tail gently and don't pull it back any further than necessary to see the bumps. At the base of the tail on the tail itself there will be two bumps on either side of the tail if its a male and one bump in the middle if it's a female. Up until about 8" long though, they will all look like females. Here's the site with the red circles Lost was talking about.

[Cheshire_queen]

alright then would it be better to just get one its mainly for my son,... his ball python just passed away not long ago and he's just been kind of down since then, or should i get him another snake instead

[maverickgtr]

I would say just one beardie. They're kind of like the dogs of the lizard world. Very expressive and such silly little things. But they do require a lot of attention and maintenance. For example they have to have greens and crickets everyday and they need calcium powder on their crickets. They also need UV lights and a basking spot that's around 105*F. Another snake wouldn't require as much attention, feeding or tank space, but I wouldn't trade my beardie for anything. Our snakes are fun but don't take them out that much because they don't really like it. Isis loves running around the living room and just looking at her crazy expressions cheers me up when I'm down.

[Cheshire_queen]

I would say just one beardie. They're kind of like the dogs of the lizard world. Very expressive and such silly little things. But they do require a lot of attention and maintenance. For example they have to have greens and crickets everyday and they need calcium powder on their crickets. They also need UV lights and a basking spot that's around 105*F. Another snake wouldn't require as much attention, feeding or tank space, but I wouldn't trade my beardie for anything. Our snakes are fun but don't take them out that much because they don't really like it. Isis loves running around the living room and just looking at her crazy expressions cheers me up when I'm down.

yeah i understand that i just dont know if i have the ability to care for one the way it needs to be taken care of,... and the snakes i have love my son and hate being in thier tanks so i think it kinda depends on how they were raised cuz i have an albino kingsnake that if a man puts his hand in her tank she'll bite him but if its me or another woman she's an angel,... she's also very food oriented the guy who had her before me never held her and admitted to rarely feeding her

[BPelizabeth]

If you are unsure of being able to devote the time then don't do it. Let me tell you its takes a lot more work to have a beardie. I find them super rewarding and will always have one from now on....but any lizards are pretty much high mait. compared to the snakes.

[maverickgtr]

I understand completely. We have a female that looooves being out and around the apartment. Our male just tries to get back in his enclosure though. Beardies are a lot of work. If your son is younger and you'd be the one doing the care, I'd say another snake. If he's older and ready to take care of a reptile himself, I'd say beardie, because then you could help, but he'd mostly take care of the beardie. But honestly, beardies are like puppies; they love attention.

[Cheshire_queen]

I understand completely. We have a female that looooves being out and around the apartment. Our male just tries to get back in his enclosure though. Beardies are a lot of work. If your son is younger and you'd be the one doing the care, I'd say another snake. If he's older and ready to take care of a reptile himself, I'd say beardie, because then you could help, but he'd mostly take care of the beardie. But honestly, beardies are like puppies; they love attention.

thank you guys so much for the help i also just found out that i'm going to be forced to move in April once my daughter arrives and would hate to put a baby beardie through that much stress,... so yes i agree i will look into another snake for now and when he's older get a beardie if he still wants one but he's two right now and i'm about to go to school for vet tech and wont have the time so thanks again for your time and information