Courting between Males

[Mariano]

Hello all,

This last weekend I wasn't at home, so my mom took the responsibility to look after my animals.
The heating lamps of the enclosure of one of my male balls were exhausted, so my mom decided to introduce this male in the cage of my other male until she could buy new heat lamps, since in Buenos Aires we are suffering very low temperatures.
Well, when I noticed that I was really scared because I thought they are on breeding time, and males can become agressive between them. And one of the males is far bigger than the other.

I was really surprised when I found this image at the enclosure:

It was not a real copulation, since there was no penetration.
Tomorrow I'll take the smallest to the vet to sexing him. But It was already sexed, and I think he is male.
BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK?? COULD A MALE COURT ANOTHER MALE (I mean, is possible courting between males?)?

Thanks a lot,

[1softkiss]

It's not uncommon I had two males that actually tried to lock up for one entire "breeding" season. After that one time I had to keep them apart because all they wanted to do was kill each other. Seriously, I'd never seen two male Ball Pythons fight to the extent those two did and they were both DEFINITELY males.

[Donnie_K]

if one of them is a female, it would be the bigger one. Males are generally smaller. Wouldn't doubt that one was mis sexed. Do you have access to a set of probes?

[Mariano]

if one of them is a female, it would be the bigger one. Males are generally smaller. Wouldn't doubt that one was mis sexed. Do you have access to a set of probes?

The bigger one is 8 years old, and it's the one which carried out the courting activity. So I think this is the male. The other one is just 2 years old. I think the smallest one was miss sexed, and actually it's a female. I can buy a set of probes...but I've never sexed snakes by myself. I prefer to go with a vet.

(...) I had to keep them apart because all they wanted to do was kill each other. Seriously, I'd never seen two male Ball Pythons fight to the extent those two did and they were both DEFINITELY males.

I took into account that a fight should be the expected result in putting together two adult males in breeding season. But, perhaps someone has seen a different behaviour, for example of a confused male trying to court another male. Sounds unlikely and crazy, but understand me, I thought they both were males!! On wednesday I will know which one was miss sexed.

[Heart and Soul Reptiles]

It's a very simple answer.
Either one of your snakes is a female (I would bet on the larger one), but get them both RE probed by a responsible vet, you can seriously injure an animal if it is done wrong.
Or it is a display of dominance. Males have been recorded in "mating activities", but it is actually a way of establishing dominance without injuring each other. Usually a larger male will instigate the dominance "dance" though, but every snake is different. Just be careful if they do both turn out to be males as it could get bloody if the behavior continues, and no one decides to submit.

[Mariano]

(...) it is a display of dominance. Males have been recorded in "mating activities", but it is actually a way of establishing dominance without injuring each other. Usually a larger male will instigate the dominance "dance" though, but every snake is different. Just be careful if they do both turn out to be males as it could get bloody if the behavior continues, and no one decides to submit.

Hello again.
Yes, finally both were males. A vet (who also has a lot of experience with regius breeding) visited me yesterday, and he sexed my regius. And he also could apreciate that "dominance dance" as I put them together for a while, and he said he'd never seen something like that before.
I have to say I was a bit hopeful, as I'd prefer him to be a girl instead of having to males (but I have another 2 females).

Thank you, if something is not very clear please tell me.