Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok guys, help me here.

I'm a long time breeder of Drymarchon, Spilotes, Pituophis...which are easy to sex with a hatchling probe.

I have a bunch of perfect little Okettees this year...and damn if my hatchling probe isn't too big for them!

Do you guys use popping?

I really hate to do that...I'm paranoid about hurting them...

many years ago. (email me if you want info on buying small probes cheap). But now I pop them all. It is pretty easy to do with a little demonstration and a lot of practice. Best to start out probing them, then pop the ones you already probed. After a while, you won't bother to probe any more babies. If you plan to attend any of the shows I will be attending, I can show you how to properly pop them. Or probably any of the reputable breeders at most shows could show you, then you can practice on your own.

Good luck!

Kathy,
I am headed to the NARBC in Philly this year so I am going to ask to see the proper way to pop a snake if it's ok with you! I know my anery motley corn is a female,I know my yellow rat snake is male but I am unsure about my cali king. I am 'pretty sure' he is male but I can't really tell the difference by looking at the vent/tail of king snakes the way I can with older ratsnakes.

Also will you have any older,almost breeding age snakes for sale there if you still plan on attending? I am considering giving a shot at breeding my female,maybe not until Spring of 2006 though as I want to do a lot more research on morphs/genetics first.
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Reptiles
0.1 - Early 2002 Anery Motley Corn 33 1/2"
1.0 - Late 2003 Yellow Rat Snake 15 2/3"
0.0.1 - 2003 Banded California King Snake 29 2/3"
1.0 Green Anole
0.0.0 House Gecko
0.1 Painted Turtle

Mammals
4 female ferrets,1 male cat and 1 male doberman...and a few kids!

RIP - Nala my Rottie 08/19/2004

I've been using the smallest thickness probe that comes in those six-probe sets, and that works for all but the tiniest of cornsnakes. The ones that small, I just have to wait for them to grow.

I've had people show me how to pop atleast half a dozen times, tried popping with them there to aid, and could only occasionally get confirmed males to pop... I'm going to stick with probing, as I seem to have no talent for the other method.

-Kat
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"You keep WHAT in your freezer?"
"Mice. And rats. If that bothers you, I can call them 'cows' instead."

Last year (was it JUST last year?) I went to a show here in Arizona and saw Kathy's table. Having heard about her for quite a while, I was anxious to meet her, and maybe, just maybe, get a little "love corn" too. I remember waiting patiently while the gentleman who was at the table spoke with Kathy. I listened in shamelessly too... and when she went to show him how to pop a hatchling, well I just had to step closer and pay close attention. The explanation was SO SIMPLE!, I still remembered everything about the mini lesson a month later when I got my own hatchlings. Now I feel VERY confident about the males I pop, and mostly confident about the females. The only time I've seen a snake probed ended up in blood! (on the human's arm, hand, LEG...) as a friend probed a couple of my adult kings to ascertain their gender.
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~Sasheena

The picture isn't the best, but I think the pertinent details are clear

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~Sasheena

>>The picture isn't the best, but I think the pertinent details are clear
>>
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>>~Sasheena

Question
Let's say I was to try and "pop" a hatchling. What if nothing "popped". How would I know whether it was a female or if I just didn't do it right?
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

based on the shape and length of the tail, after I pop the hatchlings.... If I get nothing and predicted a girl, I am pretty confident, if I get nothing and predicted a boy, I pop again in a week or two.
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~Sasheena

>>based on the shape and length of the tail, after I pop the hatchlings.... If I get nothing and predicted a girl, I am pretty confident, if I get nothing and predicted a boy, I pop again in a week or two.
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>>~Sasheena
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

I had someone show me how to pop them correctly at the Columbus show and I sat there for an hour or so and practiced on my patient clutch of babies.

I think I have this figured out!