Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, you know when people roll the hempinese out? Well someone did this to a burm at the local pet store to sex it. And well it was a girl, Now it is swollen down there and a large red thing is poking out.

Now I've never heard of this happening in female snakes, what could I do to help it?

are quite common for two reasons. The first mistake is trying it in the first place unless you are an expert at this technique. It is much too easy to damage a neonate snake unless done by an experienced person. Secondly, people try this with boids that are more than a few months old. By this point, the muscles have developed around the tail base to the point where the pressure needed to pop them will in many cases cause damage. I acquired a green anaconda from a very well known Northeastern US reptile business many years ago. It was a 4 foot male about 6 months old. The snake was a male and had been popped by their resident “expert”. When I received it, the hemipenes were exposed and damaged. The snake turned out to be permanently damaged and the vet could not help the situation. I could not believe that they actually popped a snake of this age and size, as other safer techniques could have been used. Sheer laziness and a lack of understanding. I would take this burmese to a good reptile vet and see if the rupture can be resolved. Good luck.

Kelly