Popping question

[FatBoy]

I have popped plenty of sub-adult ball pythons but am new to dealing with hatchlings. How old does a ball python need to be before attempting to pop to determine sex?

[LadyOhh]

As long as you do it carefully, you can do it out of the egg... (Not in the egg, mind you... I've never done that before...)

[Laooda]

Oh, come on Heather..... You can reach in there and do it! EZ!! You've got small hands, right?


Just funnin'! I'm with Heather, it's the same rules that apply, just an a smaller, more delicate scale. I've popped all mine so far, but plan to do several reconfirms after they have some growth on them...

[FatBoy]

Fat Boys have really big thumbs!! May make it a challenge.

[kc261]

Oh, come on Heather..... You can reach in there and do it! EZ!! You've got small hands, right?

Just funnin'!

You wait until they are in the egg to pop them? I thought it was common practice to pop them while ultrasounding the gravid mom!

On a more serious note... I've not bred yet so I've never done it, but I've seen plenty of people talking about popping as soon as they have hatched. Plus it can be done on much smaller species of snakes such as baby corns. So I don't think there is a "too young". On the other hand, I've heard it can get hard to do when they get older and stronger.

[LadyOhh]

Fat Boys have really big thumbs!! May make it a challenge.

It's a lot of practice and sweat to make sure you don't do it too hard..

Remember.. Blood is a BAD thing when popping