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Can you pop a 1 year old corn?

Can you pop a 1 year old corn

  • Yes you can pop a 1 year old corn.

    Votes: 4 8.3%

  • Yes you can pop a 1 year old corn but using a sexing probe is better.

    Votes: 13 27.1%

  • No you can not pop a 1 year old corn.

    Votes: 31 64.6%
  • Total voters
    48
TriggerHappy101

TriggerHappy101

New member
Hi, I want to double check the sex of my corn snake. He just turned 1 years old and I got him from Kathy Love. I watched her video that was online and it seems easy enough. But she says on her website that its only effective on hatchlings. Does it hurt the corn snake? Can i damage him? He is 88 grams BTW.

I am asking because I am contemplating on purchasing a female blizzard and breeding Mr. Icky with the blizzard.
 
You probably can do it on some, but I doubt you can do it safely and effectively. I don't think it would be worth the risk or all that accurate.
 
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I think it would also depend upon the size of the yearling. If it was still very small, you could probably do it, but the average yearling is usually too big to safely pop. You can damage the hemipenes due to the pressure necessary to pop them when they are that size. Probe him! It's usually best to learn both methods from someone who's done it before. That's how I learned and it's easier when someone can watch your technique and double check.
 
Okay thanks.

Being that I do not know someone that will show me and I do not trust the vet's or pet shops around here to do it safely I guess I will have to trust Kathy Loves sexing. She pops them right as a hatchling?
 
Generally yes. I usually pop mine sometime after they've starting eating. Usually a couple of weeks after hatching...
 
I pop all babies, usually twice (once when they hatch and then just before I ship). Popping is not 100% accurate on females, but it is close if you are experienced. It is generally 100% accurate on males, unless they somehow got mixed up in another cage after sexing. But that is very rare and should get caught when they are sexed before shipping.

Once a corn gets to around 16" or so, I switch to probing instead of popping. I am not comfortable using that much pressure to evert the hemipenes, as would be required on a larger juvie.

If there are any shows in your area, stick your little guy in your purse and ask an experienced breeder to show you how to probe him. If they are not too busy, they should be willing to help. I do it all the time at the shows, as long as people are willing to wait until I am not busy with customers.

Everyone who wants to breed should become proficient at both popping and probing. Once you have some practice, don't ever take anyone else's word for the sex. Always check yourself immediately after purchase. Anyone COULD make a mistake - if there is a error, you want to find out right away before it is too late to fix it.
 
Thanks for the reply!

:)

I wish their were trade shows around me, but living in west central Wisconsin not much of anything comes up here. They are always in Florida or California.

I guess I will just have to cross my fingers and hope he - is still a he. :shrugs:
 
If you can manage it, take a trip down to Chicago for the Tinley Park show in mid October. It is a bit of a drive for you, but not as far as it is for me, lol! It is one of my favorite shows - you would really enjoy it!
 
this is off topic but..Kathy can you give me a link to a good website that shows all of the reptile shows..i live in ny and there arn't that many...i woulndn't mind taking a little road trip to get some nice stuff ova at one
 
Make it a long weekend vacation - go to the aquarium, zoos, museums, etc. Lots to do!

I think Rich has an events / show calender over on faunaclassified - haven't looked at it in a while. There is also one on KS, under Events. Probably lots of others, but you would have to Google them as I am not sure where they are.
 
Hi Triggerhappy..I think we are not to far apart as it seems our time of travel are a bit alike. I am about 2 hrs west of the twin cities here. No snake showz here either. Id sure love to go also but my daughter can't travel that far. Shes handy to have along as she can pop hatchlings and has kept snakes for years...She also has a few hatchlings now..Other wise only snake lover around here is my grandson..
If you and your lady go down enjoy it for me too please...
 
Opps some one was kind enough to let me know i had my directions mixed up... I live east of the twin cities..Does that make me closer to ya Happytrigger?? lol
 
Msterry said:
Opps some one was kind enough to let me know i had my directions mixed up... I live east of the twin cities..Does that make me closer to ya Happytrigger?? lol
Click to expand...

I live in Elk Mound. Next to Eau claire/chippewa/menomonie.
 
Yupppers your close to Cat and im not far off Happytigger. Its great to hear of someone else in the area with snakes.
 
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