A Little Help Please!

[displacedinbc]

Hi All:

I have a question for you truly experienced handlers

I have 2 BP's that I have had for 2 years. When I got them they were young and about 12". One was supposed to be a male and the other a female. They are both thriving excellently, eat once a week on frozen rats etc.

Now my problem is that I have no breeders or local vet available to help me truly sex these 2 BP's. I do not want to try popping them myself from watching a video. I prefer hands on only by someone who is experienced in this art form and then can teach me how to do this. One of the BP's is very noticeably bigger and longer than the other even though they both are fed the same weekly.

For now, would it be safe to conclude that the larger BP is the female as they are supposed to grow larger than the males do after this 2 year time frame?

Thanks in advance for your answers....

[anatess]

I can't really help you on the gender determination. But, I can say from my experience that at that age, my male spider ball python was about the same size as my female pastel ball python which was slightly larger than my albino ball python.

So, I don't think that their size at 2 years of age is anywhere near conclusive of their gender.

The vet is your best bet.

[FatBoy]

The only way to 100% accurately sex ball pythons is by popping or probing.

[angllady2]

If you don't have a vet or breeder nearby you can trust, my only suggestion is to look for reptile shows nearby and try to find a breeder that way.

Most breeders don't really advertise, I was amazed how many snake breeders there were close to me that I didn't know of until my first show!

Other than that, you can try a hematological society, they should be able to help.

And no, you can't base sex off of length, although it would sure simplify my life if you could!

Gale

[displacedinbc]

Thanks for all your help people....

I guess I'm just going to have to try to find a vet or breeder somewhere fairly close to where I live.

[SlitherinSisters]

I agree, you would be surprised to find all the local-ish breeders in the area if you go to a reptile show. Even if they have a website, that doesn't mean you will be able to find them by a location search.

You can't judge the sex accurately just by looking at the unfortunately. I have a 09 pastel male and a 08 spider male, the spider male is WAY longer/heftier than the pastel, but he's a he for sure. He has been breeding the girls like a machine!