sexing

is there a quick easy way of sexing ball pythons?

popping or probing.

as what cinderbird said, however both requires experience and can hurt the snake if done the wrong way.

I just learned how to probe and how to pop yesterday! While I was in California I dropped by LLL reptile and the staff there not only walked me through it but also allowed me to try on one of their snakes! The store here in my home town told me to look at spurs and shape of the tail...I knew from prior experience that this was not the most accurate at all! Now I know how to probe and pop SAFELY! I popped both my boys today and confirmed their sex!

yeah thats my problem im not experience enough to do that and i dont want to hurt my animals

Do you have a local pet store that would be willing to walk you through the process? I know that there is alot of media on the subject but I would watch the videos and still not quite be able to do it myself without thinking that I was being too rough...so I backed off until I got the trusted hands on training that I wanted.

I'm the same way...not experianced enough to do it myself. Usually a breeder or vet will sex your reptiles for you. I actually met a breeder that worked at a local petsmart in Lubbock that helped me confirm mine was a girl. (but he thought she was a he by looking at her tail). Def. don't try on your own without someone who's experianced though...don't want to hurt your pets!

Will the breeders at the Reptile Shows/Expo's show you (even if you don't buy something from them)? I wouldn't trust the people at the pet stores by my house.

Im not sure about the breeders at the shows. Someone here can asnwer that much better than I can. I hear you though on the pet store folks. The store in my city is owned by a family that does not seem to know very much on the subject. Alot of the employees there are young and not ver educated on reptiles. The store owner's wife told me to look at the spurs and the width of the tail...I know for a fact that this is not the most accurate and told her so. I asked if they have probes or if she could show me how to pop and she said that they dont do that because its not neccesary...:rolleyes:...

They are nice folks but I think that I might be able to help them more than they can help me with the reptiles they have.

This video really helped me. I can pop snakes pretty easily now, but I used to not even have a clue on how to do it. After I watched this video several times along with a few others I did it and I can basically pop most snakes. Though I HIGHLY recommend having an experienced keeper show you in person.

YouTube - 8 Ball Pythons - Popping Lessons

I am in New Jersey also. If you live near me I can help you out if you need it. Feel free to PM me to talk it over if you want :gj:

If there is anyone in the Pittsburgh Area that can show me, I'd appreciate it. I have watched the videos but the hands on would be much more benificial in my op. Thanks in advance.

I watched a few videos and I feel fairly comfortable I can do it no problem. We have a show in Arlington, TX in 12 days so I am hoping a breeder can show me. If not, I may just try it on one of my males.

thanks CoolioTiffany that video was good.
aslo thanks boanerges but i live north nj =/
thanks everyone else as well. and yeah my local pet stores are not very iv had to correct them on thing they were doing wrong with many different kinds of animals so im not to pleased with them =/

Poping is easy i just watched a few videos and i find it alot easier on small bps then larger , just watch a video get a small snake and try it jsut dont squeeze to much and u shouldnt hurt your snake

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Originally Posted by Bpmike1208

Poping is easy i just watched a few videos and i find it alot easier on small bps then larger , just watch a video get a small snake and try it jsut dont squeeze to much and u shouldnt hurt your snake

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I did the same thing. The first time I did it I didn't push hard enough and I though I had a female for a while. I just did it again tonight for kicks and giggles and, whaddya know, I'd been calling my boy a female the whole time. I tried to get pics but they were blurry.