Probed my python but still not sure of the outcome

Hi,

Today I probed my 3+ year old ball python. The number of subcaudal scales measured 5. That doesn't fit into the 8-16 for male or 1-2 for female. I did it on both sides of the cloacal opening. Any ideas???

Thanks

Does it seem to slide in pretty far? Or abruptly stop pretty close to the cloaca? Some of my females will probe a little deeper.. but the males are unmistakable.

^^ The males are unmistakable. It goes wayyyyyy in for a male. In a 3 year old snake I'd imagine it would go in at least an inch for a male. A female will never go that far, even as an adult.

I usually consider 1-5 depth female and anything beyond 7-8 a male when probing adults. Haven't really ever probed anything that fell in the middle, and only ever had one female 5 scales deep.

Thank you very much. I'm pretty sure my ball python is a female. The probe only went in 1/2 inch, 5 scales.

You have been a lot of help!