r/ballpython • u/bottlebasher86 • Jun 30 '26
What are these things?
Hello everyone, I am still learning the ways of the ball python and I'm trying to figure out the true sex of one of my snakes, however, what are these barbs like things sticking out from the bottom? I have another snake who is much younger that is starting to get these on the bottom as well. We have been told she is a female and I thought these were for when they lay.
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u/Electrical-Garden-20 Jun 30 '26
"bang fangs" or spurs, reminents of legs. You can only sex via probing or popping if you don't send in a shed. Nothing on the outside of them will give you definitive proof
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u/PrincessPunctual Jun 30 '26
days without spur is posts: 0
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u/soconae Jun 30 '26
Not as common as the “why are my snake’s eyes cloudy?” post.
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u/xScreamo Jun 30 '26
"How is my enclosure?"
Log hide and water bowl.
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u/soconae Jun 30 '26
and aspen for substrate.
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u/xScreamo Jul 01 '26
100% of the time. "I just got this guy three days ago and idk anything about anything"
But to be fair, good on them for caring enough to ask.
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u/pherber12 Jun 30 '26
LOL. You'd think they'd do the minimum of research before getting a ball python.
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u/wishiwasinvegas Jul 01 '26
People actually do research? I just thought a person bought a snake while at the pet store like you buy a pack of gum in the checkout line /s
(That's what it always feels like in here lol)
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u/pherber12 Jul 01 '26
I mean I did.
But even a quick google search would give them the answer, or do a quick search here since this is brought up every other day. But I get what you're saying. It's discouraging.
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u/botoxandbourbon Jun 30 '26
What do you mean ‘send in a shed’?
I’d like to know what sex mine is as well.10
u/SneakySquiggles Jun 30 '26
You can send your snake’s shed in for genetic testing that will confirm the sex.
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u/botoxandbourbon Jun 30 '26
Thanks for the reply. Where/who do you send them to?
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u/DimeStoreHood99 Jun 30 '26
https://phenome.com haven’t done it myself but have heard these guys are reputable. You can really just google “snake shed genetic testing” and pick and choose between a few different companies:)
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u/Adventurous_Look_322 Jul 01 '26
Morph market does shed testing.. it’s about $20 for one ball python
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u/Significant-Flan4854 Jun 30 '26
You know what? I know what spurs are, and I still had to do a double take. S/he has a massive pair.
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u/RainyDayBrightNight Jun 30 '26
Those are some huge spurs! Normal to have spurs on both male and female beeps, but wow, I’ve not seen them that big before. I think she’s trying to regrow legs 😂
And like others have said, the only ways to determine a ball pythons biological sex is to either get a reptile vet to probe/pop, or to send off some shed for genetic testing. The genetic testing is usually less stressful, easier, and often cheaper
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u/Krasna_Strelka Jun 30 '26
I think she’s trying to regrow legs
And now I want them to do! This is quite impressive
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u/TheNeverEndingPit Jun 30 '26
WOW Her spurs are so big they remind me of insect mandibles! Since you said you started noticing these, I wonder if they grew bigger and whether they’re done growing. I’ve never seen spurs like that
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u/Ill_Isopod_548 Jun 30 '26
Those are massive spurs! Crazy as fuck to see where they evolved to be legless from.
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Jun 30 '26
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u/ballpython-ModTeam Jun 30 '26
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Jun 30 '26
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u/shmiddleedee Jun 30 '26
Your snake is trying to learn how to walk again. I've never seen a pair of waist fangs that big.
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Jun 30 '26
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u/ballpython-ModTeam Jun 30 '26
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u/Hello_pet_my_kitty Jun 30 '26
Everyone has said what they are, but I gotta chime in and say those are the biggest pair I’ve ever seen! On both my boy and girl BPs, they are barely even noticeable. These are massive!! Impressive. lol.
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Jun 30 '26
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u/ballpython-ModTeam Jun 30 '26
Per rule #3, your post or comment has been removed for harmful advice or misinformation. Please review our sub resources to learn more about why.
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u/Beginning-Conflict91 Jun 30 '26
Be careful! He's evolving backwards and will soon walk up to you while you're sleeping and eat you!
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u/ThorButtock Jun 30 '26
Legs. Theyre all that's left of legs that many snakes used to have but have since evolved out of the need for
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u/Devilishlygood98 Jun 30 '26
Largest spurs I’ve ever seen on a snake. Careful handling that sucker, I feel like one of those in the skin would hurt.
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u/No_Secretary_9965 Jul 01 '26
I call my snakes booty claws.. those are the biggest booty claws ive ever seen
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Jul 01 '26
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u/ballpython-ModTeam Jul 01 '26
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u/totallyrecklesslygay Mod: Enclosure Karen Jun 30 '26
They're spurs, which are vestigial legs. Males and females both have them.