Probed my python but still not sure of the outcome

[Lisa Inlow]

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

[Kaorte]

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.

[MrLang]

^^ 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.

[TJ_Burton]

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.

[Lisa Inlow]

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!