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How do you tell the difference between a male and female snake?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

The tail shape can help give you a clue. With a female corn snake, the tail starts to narrow immediately after the cloacal opening. Whereas in the male, immediately after the cloacal opening, the tail stays just as wide (this is where the hemipenis is located) and only the distal two-thirds is tapered.

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Question

How can you tell if a corn snake is a male or female?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

One way is to count the number of scales from the cloacal opening to the tail tip. The easiest way to do this is to take a photograph (as the snake may well wriggle halfway through counting). As a rule of thumb, a male has 140 or more scales, while a female has 130 or fewer scales.

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Question

How do you tell the age of a corn snake?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

One way is by measuring the length of the corn snake. Snakes measure around 12.8 inches at the hatchling stage, 22.9 inches at six months, and 35.1 inches at one year. However, growth also depends on how well fed the snake is. Once fully grown, ageing the snake is difficult.

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Question

Do male or female corn snakes get bigger?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

The males usually grow significantly longer than the females. The average length for a corn snake is 27 - 47 inches, with males at the longer end of this range and the females at the bottom end.

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