male or female?

i was wondering how you tell if your hog is a male or female..i check by her tail..females have different sized tails than males..

Males will generally have longer tails but you can have a male with a short tail or a female with a long tail (they don't always follow the "rules"). Depending on the size I would either "pop" it or probe it to make sure. If you haven't done either before I would suggest having it done by someone who has so you can learn how to without hurting the animal.

can you explain how thats done for us.

Originally Posted by ladyserpent7

can you explain how thats done for us.

“Probing” (AKA cloacal probing) is when you insert a slender (important word here) lubricated rod into the snake’s cloaca (vent). It is best to use a suitable sized probe when probing. This is done by gently inserting the probe against the posterior wall of the cloaca and gently guiding it into the base of the tail, (from the vent towards the tip of the tail) and measuring how far it can be inserted. The probe can be inserted further into the base of the tail on a male then that of a female. The probe passes inside the inverted hemipenis of a male snake unlike stopping sooner when inserted into the female hemipenial homolog (a funnel shaped “pocket”). To determine the sex when probing you use your fingertip to mark the depth of the probe when inserted. Then the probe is removed and placed on top of the tail where you count how many subcaudal scales deep the probe went. With most species, the depth in which a probe can be inserted with females is usually1-2 subcaudal scales, while with males the number of subcaudal scales are greater, usually 8-16.

“Popping” consists of, with the snake belly up, applying pressure (I would call it rolling) on the tail with your thumb while moving towards the cloaca (vent). In doing do so, the inverted hemipenis will generally “pop” out. While both sexes have scent glands they are sometimes mistaken as a hemipenis. An experienced person can tell the difference while a novice may be misled. You will want to start applying pressure about an inch beyond the cloaca, too close and you may be hindering the hemipenis from popping out.

With both procedures, I believe it is best to observe it done by someone who is experienced and then I’d suggest practicing on a known male, then female (or vise versa) until you feel comfortable and get the feel for each sex.

thanks, thats some good information to know, ive never done it myself..just cuz i never needed to, but who knows...in the future i might have to do it for a customer or something..

Having seen some real beauties at Daytona this past weekend, my wife and I are now planning to work with a group of Western Hogs. I'm told that the babies can be difficult to sex. I have a great deal of experience with popping and probing Colubrids and Boas, but it would seem that baby Hognose are very difficult for anyone not experienced with this particular species.

Anyone have any tips or tricks?

Thanks,

Originally Posted by Mike Greathouse

I have a great deal of experience with popping and probing Colubrids and Boas, but it would seem that baby Hognose are very difficult for anyone not experienced with this particular species.

Anyone have any tips or tricks?

Thanks,

Sorry I must have missed this earlier Mike. They are similar to popping ball pythons but obviously smaller. Their stubby tails do make it a challenge and I suggest making sure you start far enough back from the cloaca to ensure you are not hindering anything from popping. Seeing as you have experience popping I'm sure it won't take you long to get the feel for it.