[mat.si]

Hi!
How can you tell the sex difference in hatchlings? What are the actual differences in color/pattern? Can you show us any photos of both sexes as hatchlings?
I've never been able to see it until they were a few months old. Or at least I wasn't really sure about it.
But different bloodlines also have somewhat different colors/patterns. So I guess there could be some differences in the differences of the male/female colors.

Matjaz

[dactylus]

Hi mat.si,
my own juveniles have always displayed a similar, but less pronounced colouration as the adults.
Male juveniles;
Bodies have always been shades of brown, from a beige to a dark brown. The head being somewhat darker even charcoal grey in colour. Occassionally a darker dorsal stripe down the lentgh of the body, starting from the nape to the tail tip.
Female juveniles;
Head and bodies in general an overall charcoal grey, light grey, white blend. Often alternating light dark down the length of the body. Head dark, body lighter, with varying markings.

I had two original pairs, from different sources, offspring from both couples produced identifiable juveniles of similar ilk. Unlike yourself I manged a 3:2 ratio in favour of males.
Sorry no pics readily at hand, computers are new, I'm old, pictures on slide film.




best of luck for the rest of the breeding season

[mat.si]

Hi!
Thanks for this very interesting info.
When more of the babies hatch, I'll try to see, if I can spot the sex difference in color/pattern earlier than in previous years.

It looks like I was very lucky with my male to female ratio.
I only got 1 male per 3.5 females in all the previous years I was breeding them. (2003, 2004, 2005). And I was sure of their sex, because I always kept all the babies until they were at least subadults.

Regards, Matjaz