Popping...at what age?

[Savage420Siege]

Hey all!

Second week owning my 2010 baby BP. Pet store would not tell me gender because they said they could no assure me. I have watched some videos of how to properly pop a BP. Is there a certain age I should wait until I perform this? Or maybe a certain amount of time the snake should be given in it's new environment before I perform such an act?

[stevepoppers]

It's supposed to be easier with babies because the older ones are better at "holding it in." It's definitely not recommended unless you have someone who definitely knows what they're doing show you. Get someone like that to do it for you or show you. Or it can be probed. Same advice. Go to an expo, or contact a local breeder. They're pretty friendly.

[Kaorte]

You can pop them right out of the egg. It just doesn't work very well on adults because the males can "hold it in" pretty well

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

I personally don't like popping at all but it is easier with babies. You will get pee'd on most likely from compressing the glands. You can also mis-sex this way if you do not use enough pressure and a rocking motion to get the "stuff" to pop out. Just enough pressure to get something out but not enough to hurt the snake. Problem is, baby males look alot like females at hatching since the hemi penes are not very long. Its best to have other snakes of similer age for comparison "pops" until you really know what you are looking for. Then when you see it you will know.

[BPelizabeth]

Personally I would wait to find someone to show you how to do it. You can injure your snake if you do it wrong.

[Savage420Siege]

I would be more comfortable with an experienced person doing it, or showing me. I have no interests to breed, I would just like to know for my personal knowledge...and it doesn't have a name yet

I dont know of any local breeders or even a vet that specializes in reptiles, don't want to take it to a pet store cause for the most part I find the people in there seem to think they know everything about these snakes but in reality they know less than I did before I even got the snake and joined this site.

Any suggestions on how I could find a pro locally?

[Dave763]

once you see hemipenes you will have no problem telling the difference. Go watch some popping vids on youtube.
Its easy to do when they are babies.