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Iceman -

I have very limited experience so far. I have 13 chondros, only 5 of which I purchased as neonates. 2 of those neonates are mature now, 2 are 2yo, and one is a yearling. Of the 2 mature, one male, one female. The 2-year-olds have not been sexed, but have not missed any meals unless in shed, and I have not seen sperm plugs in any sheds.

I don't think any one characteristic can tell you the sex, but when you have 2-3 characteristics pointing in the same direction, it narrows down the guesswork.

The males that I have, with the exception of one, are all pretty lean, no matter how much they eat. They all shed sperm plugs, and they all miss meals from time to time, without warning, and outside of the typical fasting periods. A typical fasting in my experience will begin in late Summer to Fall, and continue through the Winter months. The duration will depend on the individual.

My females seem hungry all the time, always hunting. They are heavier bodied, and don't shed sperm plugs

I think that while it's not a perfect system, there are behavior and physical characteristics in my adults that distinguish them by sex. However, animals less than 3 years old will not always show such clear characteristics.

-Ben