Having some trouble learning how to pop..Help?

I recently learned that the only accurate way to sex ball pythons are popping and probing. Frankly im soo scared to probe and only attempted popping after watching several thousand videos of successful poppings of both males and females and reading on the actual process. But for some reason when I tried to pop my ball python I couldnt get it to work.

I gently pinched just under the cloaca, pulling back ever so lightly, I gently pushed my oppisite hands thumb down towards the cloaca, but I couldnt even get it to open much less have anything come out. I was watching my snakes reaction to the process the entire time and he didnt appear to be in any pain or discomfort. Just mildly irritated that I wouldnt let him explore the table. As far as I can tell I didnt do anything wrong, but I thought Id ask you gus for a second opinion. I want to be sure I do have a male snake before I buy and raise the snake I intend to breed him with one day. and the last thing I want to do is hurt the little guy unintentionally because I dont know what im doing.

I'm in the same spot tried but to no avail, i hope someone can help due to there being no breeders or reptile vets within 200 miles that i can take my bp to find out. Like you watched all the video's i can find read up as much as i think one can but still nothing. And i don't want to hurt him/her.

Yikes. Sorry guys. Apparently I simply wasnt applying the appropriate amount of pressure. I succesfully popped my little Girl apparently. There was a fleshy white pink hole, but no hemepenes whatsoever. Case closed. Cant wait to tell the fiance he named the snake wrong. :D

Well at first I was worried that she had an infection in her cloaca or something that was causing it not to open, but shes been pooping fine so I figured it wasnt that. It turned out that while yes I was piching below the cloaca, the rest of my hand was holding lower as well to keep her still and it hindrered my progress. Also I found that even when I pressed quite firmly on her tail she didnt really seem to mind. I dont think it bothers them as much as we think it will XD just keep trying man. It took me more than an hour to figure out, but I think I finally got it.

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Originally Posted by Riv

Yikes. Sorry guys. Apparently I simply wasnt applying the appropriate amount of pressure. I succesfully popped my little Girl apparently. There was a fleshy white pink hole, but no hemepenes whatsoever. Case closed. Cant wait to tell the fiance he named the snake wrong. :D

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...and that's why one of my females is named Goliath.... :rofl::rofl:

I am late again, LOL, usually not enough pressure. I was scared too the first couple times. I would rather probe first but have now learned to pop okay.

Do you have a breeder in the area that you can meet up with. Most breeders are pretty friendly and willing to sex your animal if you bring it to them. Just don't be surprised if they ask you to meet in a public place. I would really meet up with a breeder so they can show you and teach you in person. Popping and probing are both dangerous if you do it wrong.

If you don't know a breeder, put up an ad on craiglist asking for help. There has got to be a breeder somewhere in the area. I keep an eye on CL and have met up with people that wanted their bp sexed. Even if they don't watch CL there's likely someone in their life that does. There was an albino bp on our local CL and you wouldn't believe how many people told me about the ad and told me they watch for bps just for me, lol.

Hahahaha. I expect goliaths children to be monsters on the field of battle. I think my little girl is going to continue on being named Pakul. Im way too used to it now. Though this is fantastic news for my breeding plan. Now I can get a male spider ball, and If I get any other females I can breed him to them. As opposed to having a spider female and needing to breed any new males I get(I dont think Ill be getting very many males)

And I had thought of finding a local breeder to teach me, but I dont know why greigslist has never crossed my mind XD Like I said I believe I have popping down now for the most part. I can do it consistently, and little pakul has shown no signs of discomfort whatsoever. But I do intend to learn probing, and I very well may need a breeder to actually teach me on that front. I feel like theres so much room for error :worry:

Nice to know popping can be learned alone. I'll try to find help when the time comes, but I have a video and may try on my own if necessary.