popping

so i have been doing the ball python thing for a long time now and i still cant pop for the life of me, anyone have any good tips, i

I've tried a few times..
failed all of the times.
I think I've got the anatomy wrong...

I've done it once- and I did it right, but it just looks SOOO painful!! Even if it isnt, I still feel bad doing it an so I just dont. Instead I spend $40 at the vet for each snake to ge them probbed. lol.

yeah thats my same issue dont want to hurt them especilly hatchlings

Popping hatchlings is very easy. Good thing to know if you ever plan on breeding. The key is applying pressure to the right area and rolling your thumb...:gj: Boing!

Very good video on Adam's site (8ballpythons.com) if you haven't already seen it...

When I first started popping, I started with known males and females and just practiced, practiced, practiced. Adam talked me through popping on the phone and assured me I wouldn't break Kashmire.

Kevin showed me in person last year when I went to visit him and Kara. He'd pop a snake, then hand it to me and let me pop. None of them pee'd on him, all of them did on me! LOL

Adam and Ralph's popping videos also helped me to "finesse" my touch. I can't remember the last time that I've probed a snake, now it's all popping.

Interestingly enough, I find adults far easier to pop than babies (including the males).

You really do just need to keep practicing on your own collection of known sexes. As they say - practice makes perfect! :)

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Originally Posted by mischevious21

I've done it once- and I did it right, but it just looks SOOO painful!! Even if it isnt, I still feel bad doing it an so I just dont. Instead I spend $40 at the vet for each snake to ge them probbed. lol.

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why dont you just purchase a set of probes and do it youreself?:P

I find it much easier on the hatchlings. My problem when I first started was not the finger (thumb) that pushes out hemipenes out but making sure the other thumb is placed firmly on the claoca. Adult BP are much stronger and have much more muscle control so it is harder to pop them. Babies just come right out with no harm to snake.

My question is since you have babies for sale and you admit to not being able to pop how do you verify the sex of the baby's??