Yesterday I was teaching my husband how to probe snakes. After I showed him I let him try. My husband was having a hard time getting the probe in. I showed him once more and again my husband could not do it. I told him we would try again later on a smaller snake. But today, the snake I was demonstrating on, had his hemipenes somewhat erect out of his cloaca. I smoothed the area to see if he was swollen and he sucked the hemipenes back in. I watch him for a few more minutes and it happened again. I smoothed it out again and I haven't seen anything since.

Could my husband, having difficulties, hurt my ball python? Does this usually happen? I am very worried. If I have to I will take him to a vet but until that time, I would like to know now. I have never personally hurt a snake while probing and I have done it for about two years myself and I have never had a snake with damaged hemipenes.