Identification please!!

[Maple]

I'm looking to purchase this from a breeder. I really only want to purchase a Northern. Can someone tell me if this is indeed a Northern BTS as they are advertising?

Thanks!!!

[splashy07]

It's a Northern. And one of the prettiest ones I've seen.

[Maple]

Thank you so much! They don't know the sex. Anyway I can find out on my own?

[BD99]

I've never seen a Northan with markings that intense before. Is this just off a shed? Or am I underexposed?


As for sexing, I would bust out the wallet and let the professionals do it on your vetcheck. My vet charges like $50 for a sexing session. I dont know about others.

[tcopitho]

There aren't really any methods a vet can use to sex a skink, at least not in Canada.

The skink in the last picture appears to be a different animal, but that is the type of top down image you would need for an experienced keeper to give you an educated guess of the gender.

Its a very good looking skink, thats for sure.

[BD99]

If its under 2 then you might be able to see if a sperm plug drops.

As far as I've been told. Vets use a specific natural dye and put a drop in the cloaca then use lights to see if a hemi peen is highlighted.

The body mass reference is about 50% accurate, so kind of unreliable.

I've had 2 animals sold to me as males via body shape/colourations/behaviour who have been identified as female via vets.

One clwar cut.

The other due to the scarring of the bitten tail lacking any evidance of remaining penis tissue or drop offs.

[tcopitho]

If its under 2 then you might be able to see if a sperm plug drops.

As far as I've been told. Vets use a specific natural dye and put a drop in the cloaca then use lights to see if a hemi peen is highlighted.

The body mass reference is about 50% accurate, so kind of unreliable.

I've had 2 animals sold to me as males via body shape/colourations/behaviour who have been identified as female via vets.

One clwar cut.

The other due to the scarring of the bitten tail lacking any evidance of remaining penis tissue or drop offs.

We don't have vets using the dye technique here in Canada. I believe its fairly new even in Australia (don't quote me on that), so perhaps if its requested they'd give it a try here, but you still would have to pay for x-rays which runs about 200 dollars. Id be surprised to find a vet here who would even know of the technique. As for visually sexing, you are right, its no more than a guess with no guarantee. I personally don't even really bother with it, but unless the OP is planing on breeding it really doesn't matter much, and educated guess is as good as any.

Sperm plugs are a definite indication of male, but again, until you get that indicator its anyone's guess. All good suggestions though!

[Maple]

The pictures might be different as she was selling more than one. She did allow me to choose which one I wanted. I'm just going to assume it's a boy as it looked a little bulkier than the rest.

I've got my tank and everything set up! My only issue is the bulb I bought is too big so I can't sit my heat lamp on the screen. And also, should I have a heating pad on the opposite side of the lamp? Can I put the water over the pad? And how might I lower humidity. It's currently 60% because of the weather here.

[alichamp]

Keep all the heating on one side, and the cool side should take care of itself - you want a range of temperature and if you have heating sources at both ends you are taking that away.

[BD99]

Going on body size is very unreliable.
My girl is about 1 1/2 foot. 795gram lizard. Female.

2nd is bulkier than most for age too, minus the tail. Was sold as a male. Vet says female.

If you SERIOUSLY want a male then I'd shell for sexing. Otherwise its more a 50/50 what you get sadly.

If it doesn't matter too much then this lizzy is stunning! Seriously beautiful colours.