Questions on how to probe

[gomez101]

I was wondering if there is a book or manual that will show me how to probe a snake without damaging the animal. The closest city that will do this is 3hrs away. With a town of 50,000 people I would think one out of the six vets would do this in house. So here I am asking for some guidence out of the think tank. Thanks for the help that will hopefully be on it's way. :-/

[bcijoe]

This should only be done by an experienced, steady hand, and only if absolutely necessary.. There are other ways...
is this for adults or babies?
do you already have the probes?
do you know of any other sexing methods?
thanks, Joe

[Jon-e-Boy]

I think it is always important for all boa enthusisasts to learn how to probe. So yes, I would continue to search for the correct methods until you are confident you can perform the task on your own. Because it will take pictures as well as a verbal explanation, I cannot post it here. But my advice to you is to go the the public library and get a book on Snakes; first skimming through it to see if it has a section on probing. THE REPRODUCTIVE HUSBANDRY OF PYTHONS AND BOAS is a good book to teach you, but I'm not sure if they have it at the library; you might have to order it online. Good luck :'(

Jon

[gomez101]

The snakes I wish to probe are both juviniles and a sub adult. I have heard about 'popping' but this is for the young snakes (this is just what I've read on the internet). I have no clue on how to do either procedure that is why I'm here looking for the correct path. All I know is that I need taught this procedure because I can't rely on a vet. to do this here in my home town because no one does it. :-X

[ash]

i have had good luck going by the spur size ,on females they are hardly visable ,can be seen better on males ,i have a book called "boas" authored by doug wagner that tells how to prob ,and has drawings showing the correct why to do all 3 prob,spurs ,popping, i picked it up at a pet store,you may can find it online , hope that helps ,,,jeff

[gomez101]

Thanks for all the leads. I'll give the internet and the book stores a try.

[bambam]

I tried poppin a sub adult the other day..... not happening!

[gomez101]

I received a boa in the mail today, of course un sexed. I tried popping, and clear liquid came out plus it's vent was swelled, humped if you will. This is when I found out ignorance is not bliss. Four hours with my new snake and I thought I :-X it up.

[ksshane]

I would recommend having someone show you how to do the popping. Its really not that hard. Especially on neos, but you can hurt them pretty easy.

I dont feel very comfortable probing myself. I usually have someone I trust do it for me.

[gomez101]

That is my problem. No one in this town does the popping or the probing. It is a 3hr drive to the nearst vet that can do it, then another 3hrs back. What a joke huh. :-/ :-X :-/ :-X

[bcijoe]

hey gomez, take the snake in your hands in position as if you were going to probe yourself - hold her tail in your hand upside down with the tip pointed away from you.
Take your thumb and slide it over the bottom of her tail, from the vent down almost to the tip. Do this lightly and if it's a male, you will feel 2 tiny balls kind of stretch and then pull back. Do this lightly a few times to be sure and compare with another snake if you do. You shouldn't have a problem and this is much safer than popping or probing.
Let us know what happens...

[gomez101]

Ok, now I have the snake in my left hand, tail pointing away. Is my right hand thumb near the vent. Where exactly is the thumb? Or is say my pinky of the right hand at the tip of the tail and then all the rest of my fingures are on the snakes tail till my thumb is at the vent? Then do I apply backwards pressure? Is this when I'll feel the balls? Dude, I'm just paranoid, I don't want to be acting like I'm breaking a stick or something. Also,is this okay or reliable for a subadult. I don't mean to waste everyones time with my dumb questions, but I just don't know. And I need to know! Thanks so much for the help.

[bcijoe]

Pretend like you put a piece of tape on the underside of the tail from vent almost to the tip of the tail. take your thumb and pretend you're smoothing out the bubbles/air pockets left in the piece of tape, from the vent towards the tip of the tail. closer towards the tip you should feel a little bump as you go over it and it will kind of pull back.
if you feel nothing like this it's most likely female.

email me your number at rollojoe@hotmail.com and i will call you if you need more help.
take care, joe

[bcijoe]

just don't do it as hard as you would with the tape...
better to do it too soft and then gradually increase pressure..

sorry for the short explanation, I had earlier typed out an extremely long and detailed graphic explanation but accidentally hit the back button and cleared it out :-X :-/ :-X


in the past when i didn't have probes or was a little nervous to pop, this method saved me lots of times...

thanks

[gomez101]

Joe, I can't tell you how much I appricate your help. I will definitely give this a try. Now all I need you to do is walk me through probing and I'll have at least the sexing part licked. Do you know of a websight to buy probes at a good price? Thanks Again. Frank

[bcijoe]

I just ran a search and found some sites...
this ones seems the most affordable and the most complete
http://cvexotics.safewebshop.com/sexing_probes.html

then there are a few more...
http://www.bigappleherp.com/Pages/Product/350105.html
http://midwestcapture.com/shop/store.php?CID=&GID=13
http://www.pythons.com/probe.html


let me know when you get them!

[honkyfb35]

Here is a link with picture's and explanations on how to probe :
http://www.pythons.com/probing.html
Hope this helps. GL Kyle

[bcijoe]

Thanks for providing that info page Kyle - didn't get to see that.. I'm sure that will help or atleast provide a start..
cool :'(

[gomez101]

I looked at those sights, it helped out. Also I tried the pressure test(ie feeling for the balls along the tail) this makes me think the bci I received last week is a female. On the insertion of the probe, does one have to dip the probe down and in or is it just right there underneath the scales? Or will the probe pretty much just hit the channel and be started on it's own once placed under the vent flap?

[honkyfb35]

NP! Any help I can give I'm more than willing Herper! Sorry gomez I haven't actually probed before so can't really help you there. GL Kyle

[bcijoe]

yes you actually kind of point the probe the other way just enough to slide it under the scales covering the vent, then turn it back down in the 'channel' towards the tails tip..
you should be using some kind of lubrication
be very gentle, don't push, rather slowy turn it and it will slide in.
you have to go in towards each side, seperately... there's 2

[gomez101]

It is needed to probe both sides for an accurate judgement or will the glads vary?

[Nate]

The Bean Farm has a good selection of products including a couple different sets of sexing probes. I just ordered a set from them. I'm glad some one is asking these questions 'cause I need to learn how to sex my boas too! >:(

[ratman]

If you aren't confident I would watch someone else do it first. I'm a do-it-yourself kind of guy too, but I would,'t try just anything! Good luck!

[CCS]

Get ball tipped probes, they are a little easier on the snakes, especially smaller ones.
Chris

[UnFazedSlim]

I doubt anyone is currently following this post any longer..but wanted to add that you do not need to probe both sides for an accurate reading. But it doesn't hurt to try both just in case you were off positon on the first side.

~Slim :'( :-*

[Boabrat]

You might want to give this site a look over:

http://www.vpi.com/9VPITipsAndTechs/DeterminingTheSexOfSnakes/DeterminingTheSexOfSnakes.htm

-John