Age you could sex?

[npgeorgeuw]

Just curious when you were able to determine the sex of your bearded dragons? We have two females and two males. Each male we could tell gender (for certain) after 4-6 months. With both males we did see what looked like potential male bits with a flashlight after a month or two but each of them seem to retract them quickly until they get so big they can't do so which complicated sexing them. Each female was pretty clear based on the early meaty lack of bulk near the vent and lack of anything by flashlight.

I just don't understand how the breeders do it with tiny looking babies...--I can only imagine there designated female rate is much higher than actual....

 

[AHBD]

It can be done with a pretty good degree of accuracy if you have a lot of experience + years doing it, but no one can always be 100% sure with tiny babies. I raised a lot of babies + can probably give you a pretty accurate guess if you want to post pics of them with their tails arched up.

 

[npgeorgeuw]

Our four are all over 5 months old so really no question on them but thanks for the offer. just see a lot of friends with few month Olds who definitely don't have females or have "males" who don't look so maleish.maybe we have just been unlucky with two boys one who developed late and the other who was over 350g before they started to really show. His meaty tail made the flashlight method hard and had a pretty classic wedge until a month ago. I thoughit a few months ago maybe we saw structures with a flashlight but again super meaty tail....

 

[Rankins]

Babies can be tricky. But you can do it pretty much as soon as the baby hatches (works better if 2+ weeks old) I would hold them belly side up and gently bend the tail back. I would watch posterior to the vent as I flexed the tail back. Males have two muscle contractions that can be seen near the vent. You may have to do it several times and watch very closely. But it works...

 

[npgeorgeuw]

Thanks for the advice, rankins... We noticed what looked like retraction or contractions in one of our males very early on but he didn't show physically for more than a few months. Good to note.

 

[Rankins]

Glad it will come to good use.
Its not 100% perfect, but combine it with a few other techniques it should be really helpful.
The contractions are muscles that control the hemepenes. You can see the muscles tugging at them.