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Popping

kevmimcc Dec 15, 2003 09:02 PM

I am trying to learn how to accurately sex my corns and I'm trying to learn how to pop them but still haven't quite got it. Does anyone have any advice on how to do it? Thanks in advance.
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1.2 Corns
1.1 Graybanded
2.1 Banana Cal Kings
0.3 Solomon Island Ground Boas

Replies (7)

freezermink Dec 15, 2003 10:03 PM

yeah i second that. i don't think i'm comfortable enough yet to perform it myself, but i can't possibly get enough information about these snakes, i've become obsessed. heh. i'd love to know the process, and also any quicker, easier ways to sex snakes? even if they aren't very accurate? just curious-
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-ryan
fancher@email.com

aplaxco Dec 16, 2003 11:37 AM

The best idea is to find someone nearby who can show you how to properly "pop" a baby. I know a local snake breeder who has shown me numerous times and I still don't do it by myself. Done wrong it can kill a young corn. It's not something I would suggest learning through reading only. If you don't know a local breeder ask around online, look for a show nearby or try to find a decent petstore with a knowledgable staff. Also, some pet stores or vets will sex adult snakes for free if you can establish a relationship with them. I mentioned it because I don't know how to probe an adult either but their is a nice reptile shop here and the owner would sex snakes for me if I asked. Good luck!
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Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
1.1 Ghost(pastel) - Eek & Boo
0.1 Amel - Scarlet
0.1 Hypo - Nikko
0.1 Anery - Missy
0.1 Hypo Motley - Cordelia aka Cordy
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
Lizards
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
0.1 Dumbo Agouti - Moon
1.0 Standard Black - Pluto
Cats
1.1 Siamese - Blue & Fiona
0.1 Gray DMS - Druscilla aka Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody

kevmimcc Dec 16, 2003 12:53 PM

Yeah I know the owner of my pet store very well and he has showed me how but I still can't quite get it. Thanks for the input.
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1.2 Corns (2 striped and 1 okeetee)
1.1 Graybanded
2.1 Banana Cal Kings
0.3 Solomon Island Ground Boas

wade Dec 17, 2003 11:46 AM

Popping is not too difficult and probably is not as dangerous to the snake as probeing. What I advise people to do is picture the hemipenis inside the snakes tail. I hold the snake in my left hand and grasp the tail with my right thumb and index finger. Gentely bend the tail over your index finger and then roll the thumb up the tail to the vent. It's like trying to squeeze tooth paste. It is the rolling of the thumb that is important.

If a hemipenis pops out (or both) you know you have a male. If one doesn't pop out you know you either have a female or you didn't do it right. You might practice on a snake that you know is a male.
This only works with baby snakes by the way.

Above all, be careful.
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Wade's Weptiles & Wodents

Sillygirl Dec 17, 2003 01:51 PM

Ok I admit it, I'm a wuss, and no matter how many times someone explains that to me I don't want to try it and risk popping the guts of my snake all over the place (yes I realize that's extreme but I'm not into torturing small animals to figure out if they contain a hemipenis or not )

Ok so that being said and while the topic is on sexing snakes. How old (or long, wide, mature)do they have to be before you can visually sex them by the shape and length of tail?

I already know I have 4 girls, so popping isn't an issue for me but I have a new normal corn that I'm not sure of that I'd like to find out.
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Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.4.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

cowtownherper Dec 17, 2003 03:36 PM

I don't think you can ever be totally sure just by the shape of the tail. I've had snakes I was sure was one sex or the other, and was wrong. Popping isn't that hard once you get the hang of it. Just try to do it on an empty stomach or your little one will give you a early christmas present.

Sillygirl Dec 17, 2003 04:56 PM

That reminds me of what happened to me last night. I was holding my anery and we were having a good ol' time. I set her down in front of my in my bed letting her just kinda crawl around. Looked up at my husband who was holding our Snow corn and I hear this funny squishing noise and look down in time so see just how a rat pup looks coming out the other end . I was not pleased to say the least but I am a firm believer now in the statement "handling corns is a good laxative for them".

I think I'll still hold off on trying to "pop" them until I have someone who knows what they are doing, show me physically.
-----
Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.4.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

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