KroniclyHigh said:

Cloacal Popping

Hatchlings of all the snake species with which we have ever had the opportunity to try can be sexed Popping a female ball pythonPopping a female ball pythonusing a method known as "popping." The thumb of one hand is placed on the anal scale of the baby to be sexed and used to gently pull the scale forward, exposing and slightly opening the vent. The thumb of the other hand is placed on the subcaudal surface (underside) of the tail near the base. The thumb on the underside of the tail squeezes the tail against a finger and, using the thumb in a rocking motion, pushes gentle pressure toward the vent. The increased internal pressure in the base of the tail generated by the pressure of the thumb causes the hemipenes of the males to pop out.

The hemipenes of hatchling males are little pink or reddish rods that pop out, one on each side of the cloacal opening; on most species they have a visible red blood vessel on their medial surfaces. A females may evert her cloaca and erect her scent gland papillae in response to the pressure. The scent gland papillae may appear similar to hemipenes (especially if no comparison is possible,) though they are always smaller, and they may have a tiny red tip, but no blood vessel is visible.

Popping a male sand boa babyPopping a male sand boa babySnakes can be sexed with certainty using the "popping" method only during the first few weeks after hatching. After that time the young males gain sufficient muscle control of their hemipenes to make uncertain any "females" identified by this method. Hatchling snakes of all species are delicate and it's critical to their physical well-being to gently restrain them when they are being sexed, and to not subject their spine to excessive compression or stretching. The use of an appropriate-diameter clear-plastic tube is a very safe and appropriate means to restrain delicate snakes, biting snakes, and venomous snakes.

Some adult male snakes will allow themselves to be "popped." Here an adult male ball python allows thePopping Adult Male Ball PythonPopping Adult Male Ball Python bases of his hemipenes to protrude in response to pressure on his tail. Upon seeing even this much of the hemipenes, a keeper can be assured that this is a male snake. The problem is that adult males may not allow any even partial eversion of their hemipenes in response to pressure. The brown substance on the hemipenial base on the right side of the photo is the "musk" from the one of the paired scent glands that are in the base of the tail of nearly all snakes. Pushing on the base of the tail often compress the scent glands in the tail of either sex, causing them to expel a small amount of their secretion. Note the spur of this male ball python, visible on the margin of the cloaca on the right side of the photo. Actually, for a male ball python, it's a slender spur showing little wear. It does have a lot of inward hook, typical of males.

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Pssh, basically what I said except without all of the fancy-smancy scientific talk.

OsculateOfDemise said:

KroniclyHigh said:

Cloacal Popping

Hatchlings of all the snake species with which we have ever had the opportunity to try can be sexed Popping a female ball pythonPopping a female ball pythonusing a method known as "popping." The thumb of one hand is placed on the anal scale of the baby to be sexed and used to gently pull the scale forward, exposing and slightly opening the vent. The thumb of the other hand is placed on the subcaudal surface (underside) of the tail near the base. The thumb on the underside of the tail squeezes the tail against a finger and, using the thumb in a rocking motion, pushes gentle pressure toward the vent. The increased internal pressure in the base of the tail generated by the pressure of the thumb causes the hemipenes of the males to pop out.

The hemipenes of hatchling males are little pink or reddish rods that pop out, one on each side of the cloacal opening; on most species they have a visible red blood vessel on their medial surfaces. A females may evert her cloaca and erect her scent gland papillae in response to the pressure. The scent gland papillae may appear similar to hemipenes (especially if no comparison is possible,) though they are always smaller, and they may have a tiny red tip, but no blood vessel is visible.

Popping a male sand boa babyPopping a male sand boa babySnakes can be sexed with certainty using the "popping" method only during the first few weeks after hatching. After that time the young males gain sufficient muscle control of their hemipenes to make uncertain any "females" identified by this method. Hatchling snakes of all species are delicate and it's critical to their physical well-being to gently restrain them when they are being sexed, and to not subject their spine to excessive compression or stretching. The use of an appropriate-diameter clear-plastic tube is a very safe and appropriate means to restrain delicate snakes, biting snakes, and venomous snakes.

Some adult male snakes will allow themselves to be "popped." Here an adult male ball python allows thePopping Adult Male Ball PythonPopping Adult Male Ball Python bases of his hemipenes to protrude in response to pressure on his tail. Upon seeing even this much of the hemipenes, a keeper can be assured that this is a male snake. The problem is that adult males may not allow any even partial eversion of their hemipenes in response to pressure. The brown substance on the hemipenial base on the right side of the photo is the "musk" from the one of the paired scent glands that are in the base of the tail of nearly all snakes. Pushing on the base of the tail often compress the scent glands in the tail of either sex, causing them to expel a small amount of their secretion. Note the spur of this male ball python, visible on the margin of the cloaca on the right side of the photo. Actually, for a male ball python, it's a slender spur showing little wear. It does have a lot of inward hook, typical of males.

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Pssh, basically what I said except without all of the fancy-smancy scientific talk.

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Gumby said:

The only real way you can sex a corn snake is by probing it.

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Maurer said:

Gumby said:

The only real way you can sex a corn snake is by probing it.

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Sounds sexy and I hope I don't have to hear this happened.

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