Sexing Probes

[ThyTempest]

I am looking to buy a set of sexing probes soon and wanted to know where you all suggest I get them. I am going to call a few local vets and see if they have a spare set to sell to avoid shipping. Prices are pretty consistent on all of the major sites online, but they sell various sets. Which would you all suggest for everything from baby colubrids to "big" boas. Also, is ball tip definitely the way to go? Also, if anyone knows recommended probe sizes to use with varying ages/sizes of bp's that would be really really helpful.

Thanks,
Austin

[llovelace]

Ebay seems to have the best prices imo.

[dr del]

Hi,

I got a set of six ball tipped off of ebay.

They looked similar to these ones.

Is it only ball pythons you want to use them on? The ones I got aren't small enough for me to feel comfortable using them on hatchling cornsnakes - but then I'd be too much of a woose to try thinner ones in case I hurt the little worms anyway.


dr del

[eMonk]

sexing by hand can be done quickly or are you not comfortable with it?

[ThyTempest]

I am comfortable with it, and I have done it a few times, but I am in the process of trying to find local adult females. I don't have any experience popping adults, and a lot of the owners don't even know what popping is, so they are more averse to me making their insides spill out when I can just probe them.

With that said, I am trying to decide between these two. The colored ones seem to have a better size gradient, but I am worried that the thinnest one might not be ball-tipped enough...plus I just dont like the colors. The other one seems to have too big of ball tips on some. Maybe some people with experience can let me know which you would prefer, since I know both would certainly work just fine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Herp-Tools-6-Pcs...3286.m20.l1116
http://cgi.ebay.com/Herper-Tools-6-T...3286.m20.l1116

[eMonk]

ah i see

[twh]

sexing by hand can be done quickly or are you not comfortable with it?

here's one for the "completly out of context thread".

[dr del]

Hi,

The coloured handle ones seem to have a better range of sizes.

When you get to the smallest probes the ball end is really redundant because it would still be small enough to puncture the snake if you used too much pressure.

Similarly if you will never be probing really large snakes then a 3 or 5 piece set might be a better fit.

But it really does depend on the size of snakes you intend to use it on - if it really would be used mainly for adult sized or near to it then either set would have a probe that would do I think.

Why not email the links to some of the bigger breeders and ask their advice too?


dr del