General question about sexing a boa constrictor

[Edwardein]

Can anyone please tell how young you can sex a boa constrictor? I have a red tail boa who is 5 months old and I'm curious if he/she is too young to be sexed safely.

[Reinz]

I just came across this. I'm very surprised that no one answered you.

There are two ways, popping and probing. Both required by someone with experience or you may injure your snake.

Popping is merely manipulation of the hemipenes/sex organ out of the vent.

Probing is guiding a probe tool through the vent into the hemipene/sex organ sheath and used as a measuring stick of sorts.

Some consider popping best be done when they are very young. Others will argue the point.

As far as which is better or safer? That appears to be an ongoing discussion.

[Edwardein]

Thank you very much for your response! I actually went and had her sexed by an experienced herp specialist that I know in my area who did it by utilizing probing. Now I know that my beautiful het albino RTB is a girl.

[JoshSloane]

Glad Reinz got an answer for you. I pop all my boas when they are only a few days old. As they get older and bigger it becomes more of an ordeal to pop. Usually people are pretty good at sexing if they have done it a lot.