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What do you look for when sexing?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:45 pm
by A.VinczeBTs
Hey guys!

My little dude took a poop today and I was near to see it, and I think I saw sperm plugs, I didn't really take a closer look because I had to go shopping, when i came back my boyfriend had cleaned up. :doh:

But I was wondering, what else do you look for? Tail bulge? Wide hips? Fat body?

Here is a picture of a local skink, was wondering what sex you guys thought it might be?
Image

She can't take care of all the animals, and is selling her. Now I have no intention of getting her (I just got mine!!) but looking at it, I started wondering, how do you "Guess" at gender? She thinks it's female (as she's seen poop but never plugs or anything else), but I think I see male???

Just an inquiry. :oops:

Re: What do you look for when sexing?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:55 pm
by xxmonitorlizardxx
Male IMO
I look for thin-ness in general and a long thin body(not tail) compared to a female.

Re: What do you look for when sexing?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:15 pm
by Jeff
I would be surprised if that skink turned out to be female. It is one of the most male looking northerns I have seen.

Re: What do you look for when sexing?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:26 pm
by Susann
...wow, I suck at this! My first inclination was to say female... :doh:

Re: What do you look for when sexing?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 6:26 pm
by Bird_Brain
Susann wrote:...wow, I suck at this! My first inclination was to say female... :doh:

HAHA. I dont even really try with anything other than gigas species. I just dont have enough experience to make an educated guess.

Re: What do you look for when sexing?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:46 pm
by A.VinczeBTs
See now I thought it was a male based on skinny. However, what gives it away to you guys? :O Besides Susann, ehehe. ;)

Also, I think it's under fed, so it may actually be under weight, does that make a difference too? Or is it all shape? D:

Re: What do you look for when sexing?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:53 pm
by Jeff
Under fed does make a difference, but that skink doesn't look under fed to me, it just looks male. It is not just a matter of skinny, it is a matter of proportions. The length of the body (between front and back legs) compared to the overall length, the head size compared to the body. The angle of the body as it returns to the rear legs. It is not one thing though, it is the combination of all of them. In most northerns, the majority of these things point one way or the other. In this skink, ALL of them point to male in my opinion.

In all honesty, it is hard to explain. It's just that after looking at hundreds of them, some look male, some look female, and some look like transvestites. This one looks very male to me.

Re: What do you look for when sexing?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:00 pm
by A.VinczeBTs
Thanks!! Guess I have no idea what to look for, lol, maybe in a couple years I'll have a "feel" for a gender. :P

You have a talent!

Re: What do you look for when sexing?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:12 pm
by Jeff
A.VinczeBTs wrote:
You have a talent!


You will probably continue to think that until your skink gives birth to 16 babies! Sexing bts visually is definitely not an exact science!

Re: What do you look for when sexing?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:15 pm
by A.VinczeBTs
Jeff wrote:
A.VinczeBTs wrote:
You have a talent!


You will probably continue to think that until your skink gives birth to 16 babies! Sexing bts visually is definitely not an exact science!

Fair enough!! :lol: Good thing for my tiny dude, he's too small and has no friends to share his tank. No babies for him until a couple years from now...if ever! :wink:

Still would be nice to just be able to pop them like with snakes! :noknow:

Re: What do you look for when sexing?

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:11 am
by realis88
nice nothern

Re: What do you look for when sexing?

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:00 pm
by Katrina
Gorgeous! I agree with Jeff and ML, looks male to me. When they are out of brumation I'll try to get top down pics of my Northerns to show sexes. Your guy looks a lot like my Stewy. :D

Some of them are really tricky to sex, but Jeff explained it well. I also prefer to sex gigas, like Brad - I find them easier, but I've seen more of them in person so I'm sure that helps.