It's a girl! And it's another girl, and another.
That's what one reptile owner wanted to hear from the ultra-sound technician on Tuesday afternoon at Dewdney Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge. Females are more desired than males if one wants to sell breeding pairs.
In the end there were very few surprises for veterinary Dr. Adrian Walton, the ultrasound specialist Dr. Douglas Casey, and The Reptile Guy's Mike Hopcraft, when they "sexed" several Gila monsters, Mexican beaded lizards, and a 55-pound, 11-foot Burmese python.
The python arrived on Saturday. "We are trying to get him adopted out," said Walton. (This snake was one of the few "sexing" surprises when he became a she.)
Dewdney Animal Hospital is the only centre in the area that has a permit to house controlled alien species.
"Because of this permit I tend to get these dropped off here quite a bit," Walton added.