Now that my baby kingsnakes have all hatched and some have shed it is time to set aside some time to sex them all. I will usually wait until they have had their first shed. Sexing them is exciting, because it will help me determine which ones I may want to keep. For example, an albino female eastern kingsnake would be a super addition to my collection. So if I have any, I am planning on keeping one (maybe two). It also helps any potential new owners decide if these babies may be something they want to get.
I have sexed hundreds of snakes, both babies and adults of several species. It's not a glamorous event, and can be a little gross if the poop and musk starts flying toward your face. But it has to be done. For babies I will generally opt to use the popping method of sexing them. Its just faster and safer I feel for these little ones. You just need to be careful not to hurt them. They are still a little delicate at this age. If you have never done it, or are unsure how to do it, there are several youtube videos out there covering how its done.
After they have shed and been sexed I will attempt to get them to eat their first meals. I expect some will just dive right into eating without hesitation and I expect others will be more hesitant. It's just the nature of the beast. One thing is for sure, with kings, once they are started they are generally very hardy animals. I am still awaiting a shipment of frozen rodents which contains some extra small pinkies for these guys. So once its here I hope to post some update photos of some of these babies taking down some food.
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