Carpet Python - Probe Depth?

[Brandon Osborne]

I think 6 is the stopping point for female. If it's 6 I would reprobe. 9 is a definite male, IF you have a person very experienced probing carpets. Not saying it was done incorrectly, it's just I've heard of several people puncturing the wall and probing male while injuring a female not knowing any different.

David, I'll have to disagree with you here. Probing is NOT 100% accurate at any depth. I have a 2001 Biak female that was sold to me as a male at 2.5 years old. I raised it, cycled it, paired it up with several female chondros and nothing. I probed just to make sure......11 scales deep. To make a long story short, "he" has produced two clutches of eggs for me. lol.

The only 100% accurate method of sexing is reproduction. Even two males of some species will court each other, as will females simulating a copulating male.

In my opinion a depth of 9 should be male but there are also other telling factors such as, size, body shape, spur size, feeding habits, etc. Again, it's not always 100% but it doesn't hurt to add everything up. I've been pretty accurate with raising all my chondros up and visually sexing them by appearance and behavior.

At this point, the best thing to do would be get a fresh shed from another male and see how the snake reacts.

Good luck.