File :-(, x, )
garter snake Anonymous
hey i just caught a garter snake and i plan on keeping it...does anyone know how to tell the gender?...if you do please tell...also i think i got what i need to take care of it...but im not sure...can anyone help me out there also?

pic not related
>> Anonymous
I has a ribbon snake.Almost the same, but with minor differences. I caught HIM from a big field just by my house. He was super-SUPER skinny. I mean, toothpick skinny. I felt sorry for the little guy (must've been only about four inches long, still a baby), so I brought him home and fattened him up with lots of wild-caught minnows.

As for telling between gender, there are a few methods. There's "popping", which I'd only reccommend to someone with experience since it requires holding the snake still and pressing/massaging gently at the cloaca to expore their genitalia.

You can also get them probed, also which I'd recommend someone experienced in doing such should.

But the other option is tail length and scale formation. Males usually have much longer tails, being about 1/3 of their body length. And male snakes are always smaller and usually less bulky. Females have shorter tails and grow considerably larger.