What do you look for when sexing?

[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.

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?


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.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Male IMO
I look for thin-ness in general and a long thin body(not tail) compared to a female.

[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.

[Susann]

...wow, I suck at this! My first inclination was to say female...

[Bird_Brain]

...wow, I suck at this! My first inclination was to say female...

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

[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:

[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.

[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.

You have a talent!

[Jeff]

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!

[A.VinczeBTs]

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!! 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!

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

[realis88]

nice nothern

[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.

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.