I just got a new baby ball python and i dont now if its a boy or a girl.Can someone tell me how to tell the difference between a male and a female ball pythons.
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new ball
skatecoupard
Jan 18, 2006 08:34 AM
Replies (1)
zefdin
Jan 18, 2006 08:53 AM
Sometimes pet stores or others will say you can tell the sex by the anal spurs or the girth of the tail. These methods are not accurate.
You either have to have it "popped" or "probed" to really tell.
Popping is a technique where you GENTLY push with your finger, from the tip of the tail forward, towards the vent, to expose the males hemipenes and, if the animal is old enough, sperm plugs will pop out.
Probing is done with a lubricated, correctly sized probe that is specially made for this purpose. The probe is inserted into one side of the vent, and GENTLY pushed back towards the tip of the tail. Males will probe 8-10 scales deep, females LESS than 4-5.
I would recommend you find someone locally that can show you, in person, how to "pop" and "probe". It isnt really difficult but you really can hurt the animal if you do it wrong.
Good luck!
Alan
