probing

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I have seen snakes probed in person by a few different people. (friends, pet shop owner, vet) I just got my own probe set, and was curious if anyone could provide step by step directions for the procedure... including how to pick the right size probe. My set came with 6 probes. the 4 larger ones have balled ends... the two smallest wire looking ones do not have balled ends. Is there some kind of recomendation as far as what size probe to use for what weight ball????

Any help or links you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

[frankykeno]

http://reptilegeeks.com/videos/id_60...probe-a-snake/

http://www.vpi.com/publications/dete..._sex_of_snakes

Hope these will be of some help to you, Mike.

[JAMills]

http://reptilegeeks.com/videos/id_60...probe-a-snake/

http://www.vpi.com/publications/dete..._sex_of_snakes

Hope these will be of some help to you, Mike.

Those are some good links to checkout.
What size snakes are you trying to probe?
I try to pop hatchlings but I check them again at 4-5 weeks by probing to confirm. I to have the probe set with the 6 probes 4 with ball ends and 2 that are basically stiff wire that have been rounded and smoothed on the end. I use the larger of the 2 wire ones on them.
I use hand sanitizer on my hands and the probe before each animal, and dip the prob in water so it is not dry when inserting.
I hold the snake upside down in one hand with the tail pinched between my pointer and thumb on each side of the vent. I insert on one side at a time, but do both sides to confirm. I VERY VERY gently slide the probe in and you can tell when it hits bottom.
DONT FORCE IT! You can definately tell Male from female once you have probed one of each. The females are very shallow and the male seem like a bottomless pit....LOL.
Hope I helped.

[Mochelem]

So Im taking it that you dont go through the middle of the vent but instead on each side? Ive wanted to learn how to do this for a while, Im no good at poping because I feel like Im hurting the snake...

[JAMills]

So Im taking it that you dont go through the middle of the vent but instead on each side? Ive wanted to learn how to do this for a while, Im no good at poping because I feel like Im hurting the snake...

Yes each side of the vent. Not the middle. The Hemipenes ( male ) are inverted down each side of the tail from each side of the vent. This is what you are looking for. When the Hemipenes are inverted they create very deep tubes which allow the probe to slide freely much deeper than if it was a female. If the probe only freely goes a few scales deep then it is a female. If it goes many then it is a male. I have had males go from 8 all the way to 14 scales. Females usually 5 or 6 max.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

thanks!

[juddb]

So Im taking it that you dont go through the middle of the vent but instead on each side? Ive wanted to learn how to do this for a while, Im no good at poping because I feel like Im hurting the snake...

Yes you go through the sides of the vent, i do both sides. Im also afraid of popping cause i dont want to hurt the animal. With males the probe usually slides in pretty easily, with females it seems like as soon as you get it in there it stops, hard to explain really the links above are pretty good though.

[Mochelem]

Just wanted to add this video, you get more of a close up of how probing is done


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8y681OVOyc