Any good reads on probing?

Just wondering if anyone knows any good reads or articles on probing. Got a 6 piece probe set on the way and I want to know a little bit more about how to do it. I'm probably going to ask someone from the herp society to help me out with learning to probe. I would think my female boa would be a good first snake to probe since she is so docile. Any help is appreciated!!
The reason I am asking is becuase there is so much crap on the net written by people with no hands on experience with what they are writing about.

I'm not experienced enough to give advice on this subject, but I do have a question about probing. Is it stressful for the snake? If it's stessful I probably won't put my snake through it...I don't have plans on breeding it, but I don't like refering to my pet as an "it." I'm using a female name right now, but I'm unsure of "her" gender.:confused:

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

Just wondering if anyone knows any good reads or articles on probing. Got a 6 piece probe set on the way and I want to know a little bit more about how to do it. I'm probably going to ask someone from the herp society to help me out with learning to probe. I would think my female boa would be a good first snake to probe since she is so docile. Any help is appreciated!!
The reason I am asking is becuase there is so much crap on the net written by people with no hands on experience with what they are writing about.

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Jake, in my honest opinion i do not see how reading anything will show you how to safely probe any snake.I would rather you have someone show you in person how its done.Please make sure they really know what they are doing also:D .If you push to hard or to fast you can push thru that area and you will have some problems.I hope you bought the set with the ball tip,those without are dangerous as they are just a sharp point.Probing is not a overnight thing to learn either.Good luck and pay attention :P lol

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Originally Posted by snake_lady83

I'm not experienced enough to give advice on this subject, but I do have a question about probing. Is it stressful for the snake? If it's stessful I probably won't put my snake through it...I don't have plans on breeding it, but I don't like refering to my pet as an "it." I'm using a female name right now, but I'm unsure of "her" gender.:confused:

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Please do not think i am being rude here.Lets see someone holds you very still while someone places a metal thing in your whoohoo :eek: .That would stress me for sure :8: :8: :8: ,as far as i know yes it is stressfull on the snake.So thats why its best to know how to probe properly as you will not take forever to get it done.

Lol. Yea I kind of figured if I was in my snake's "shoes" I wouldn't like it either. I think I'll just guess a gender and hope I was right. After all, I have a 50/50 chance.:)

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Originally Posted by snake_lady83

Lol. Yea I kind of figured if I was in my snake's "shoes" I wouldn't like it either. I think I'll just guess a gender and hope I was right. After all, I have a 50/50 chance.:)

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I thought you would understand :D .Next time you take him to a vet for a checkup or so some will tell you during that visit.Just dont watch ;) :P .If you want it to remain untouched in that areaits fine to name it whatever you chose.I do not think the snake will mind having a boys name if its a girl or vice versa,compared to a metal probe in the woohoo :8: :8: :8: :D :P

Very true. I'm sure it means more to me than it does to my snake, so I'll be nice and spare "her" the discomfort. I know if I could get a shot, but didn't need it I definitely wouldn't get it. ;)

Despite what people say that you can't learn to probe by reading...it is still VERY helpfull. I read alot of things online and looked at diagrams and glad I did. It was very helpfull, so I recommend doing so in conjuction with an experienced "prober" showing you how to insert. Its not all that difficult honestly, you just need know how "feel" when to stop or you could cause internal damage.

Here is the best read out there:
http://www.vpi.com/9VPITipsAndTechs/...exOfSnakes.htm

But just as every one else has said. Reading is only a fraction.....but seeing is everything. It is best to have someone demonstate it to you.....over and over again....

If you have any doubts about what you are doing....you should not probe the snake.

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Jake, in my honest opinion i do not see how reading anything will show you how to safely probe any snake.I would rather you have someone show you in person how its done.Please make sure they really know what they are doing also:D .If you push to hard or to fast you can push thru that area and you will have some problems.I hope you bought the set with the ball tip,those without are dangerous as they are just a sharp point.Probing is not a overnight thing to learn either.Good luck and pay attention :P lol

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I wasn't planning on doing it without someone showing me first hand. I've seen a few people do it but never really paid attention very much to it. I did get ball point probes too.
This is where my probes and temp gun are coming from
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...t-ball-tipped/