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I need help "popping" my babies !!!

insangelic Oct 22, 2008 02:43 AM

I've watched the youtube videos, I've read every article I can find and I've even had a friend show me how to pop my ball pythons but I can't seem to get it right. At least once a week for the past month or so, I would test my skill and pop a confirmed male (adults and babies) but fail miserably every time. Can anyone tell me how much pressure I am supposed to apply without hurting them? I have very small hands and fingers, would that affect my snake popping abilities? Should I be arching their tail back? Any tips or tricks would be appreciated! Thank you for reading.

(I couldn't get the hemipenes to show in this male black pastel... but according to the pic and his offsprings... he is defintely a he...haha)
Image

Replies (6)

pitoon Oct 22, 2008 08:22 AM

it's very easy, but it does take practice to get them to pop quickly.

pick up the snake support the body on your forearm or have someone hold it.

place your thumb in a way that the tip of your thumb should be right at the snakes vent pointing towards the tail.

then with the other hand place your thumb a little way past the mid point on the tail towards the tip.

with the thumb on the vent gently pull back putting light pressure, so that you open the vent slightly

at the same time with the thumb on the tail roll your thumb at the same time putting pressure towards the vent

when you do this once your thumb on the tail gets to the vent everything will pop out. if it doesn't then re-roll again.

if you have a male and know for sure that it's a male then you need to move your thumb on the tail more towards the tip of the tail. and re-roll.

many people that don't know how to pop think that you just put presure on the tail while openning the vent and they will pop. when you just put pressure on the tail you are also putting pressure on the hemi's and that's why they can't pop out.

the key is to roll from mid point or slightly past mid point towards the tail, then you put the pressure and then you roll towards the vent.

it will pop out for sure. practice a few times on one snake and then give that snake a break and move to another to practice.

probing is a lot faster and a more secure way i think of sexing.

good luck

Pitoon

Shadow4108 Oct 22, 2008 12:08 PM

That was very helpful. THANKS!
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

0.2 chocolate lab Harley and basset Capone
1.0 leopard gecko (Nacho)

luvmyhydra Oct 22, 2008 12:47 PM

i must thank you as well.. i knew my 3 ft was a male but i wanted practice on popping since i'll soon be breeding.. i had seen videos on it, but you gave a great step by step directions.. sure enough i do have a male!!
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2.1 Dogs
2.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 Cat

pitoon Oct 22, 2008 02:40 PM

glad it worked for you!

next on the menu......probing, lol!!!!

Pitoon

Shadow4108 Oct 22, 2008 05:19 PM

..
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

0.2 chocolate lab Harley and basset Capone
1.0 leopard gecko (Nacho)

robyn@ProExotics Oct 22, 2008 11:18 PM

I did an FAQ on the visuals of popping, linked here. I wasn't trying to give the specifics of the action, but rather the visuals of what you are looking for. Still, you can see quite a bit from the pics and perhaps fine tune your technique on hand placement and grip.
http://proexotics.com/FAQ2.html#snakes_sexing
http://proexotics.com/FAQ2.html#snakes_sexing

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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

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