Not breeding - but I think I felt follicles!

[rabernet]

So, after talking with Becky one evening, follicles came up in the discussion, and I had mentioned to her that I was a little embarassed that when I went to Justin's and he tried to show me how to feel follicles, I honestly couldn't feel anything.

She gave me a tip to use a small dish towel or similar type fabric (pillow case, t-shirt) and how to hold my hand. The idea of the cloth is to allow the snake to move more smoothly through your hands (which was good for me, and as I get more experience will try to wean myself of it). Well, I had Pandora out, admiring her size (she's about 1400 grams now - I'm pretty darn proud having raised her from a baby) and figured, what the heck, I need to start practicing for the 2007/2008 season when I hope she'll be up to weight - if not, we'll wait another season.

Anywhooo, she told me that she'd go through smoothly, then in the back 1/3, if there were follicles, I'd feel "bump, bump" and it would feel like little marbles. Darned if she wasn't right! So, Ms. Pandora is producing follicles!!!!! Woo Hooo! I felt them, I felt them! (though I didn't try to count them this time).

I know, I know - I still get excited over firsts!

[SatanicIntention]

Yay! Glad that method worked for you It's so much easier using the small snakebag or pillowcase, and the snakes relax more.

[West Coast Jungle]

I'm not familiar with the cloth thing, how does it work?

[rabernet]

The towel/t-shirt/pillowcase - whatever you use, reduces the friction of the snake as it goes through your hand, so it made it very easy for me to feel the difference in it going through my hand smoothly, then to feel the bump, bump, bump feel and noticeable small marble size of those "bumps" (several times) in the back 1/3 of the length of her belly.

I cupped my hand in a "C" shape, with the thumb on her back and the other fingers together putting steady pressure on her belly, with the t-shirt (in my case) between my hand and the snake. I placed her head into her tub, and as she made her way into the tub, I just let her slide through my hand, paying attention to the differences.

Ralph Davis has a pictorial of how he does it (without the aid of the "cloth trick" that I used) here (oh, I did feel the gas bubbles too that Ralph refers to). Basically - exactly how Ralph instructs, the only difference is using cloth to reduce friction, somehow made it easier for me to feel the "string of pearls" that Ralph describes:

http://www.ralphdavisreptiles.com/ma.../palpating.asp

[Larry Suttles]

I've been tryin and I still don't feel anything I'll give it another month

[Adam_Wysocki]

Mature females ALWAYS have follicles, most of the time they just aren't big enough to feel.

The cloth thing is how I started paling 8 or 9 years ago ... I was told to start with a paper towel under the snakes belly until I got the "feel" for it.

When I started, I mixed up "stuff" in the digestive tract and follicles all the time ... once you "know" you've gotten follicles the difference is unmistakable, but for a lot of beginners, it's easy to confuse the two.

ROCK ON Robin!

-adam

[joyful girl]

ohhhh now I have to go feel Scarlett!

*edit* YUP I felt them!!!

[KittyJ]

time).

I know, I know - I still get excited over firsts!

Dont we all Heehee. Congrats. lol

[Ginevive]

Awesome! This is something I am learning about now also; last night I checked Bela out, and I could distinctly feel them.. it was kind of like "oh! there they are!" popped into my head..
Maybe it's me, but it seems like mature females get a certain "look" to them, like their lower half is flatter and wider.. I have never noticed this on my full-grown male nor the males of friends or other breeders.. but when I look at Ginger, Bela, and Jenny here (two have been bred, one is to be bred soon) I see it..