Probing...

[End Times]

I'd like to have my newly acquired ball probed to determine its sex, and be shown how to do so myself for the future, but am uncertain how to go about finding someone knowledgable in my area.

I live in North Bay, Ontario which has a population of 56,000 people and no reptile clubs or specialty stores to speak of. I won't even consider bringing my snake to a petstore as I don't want to risk it catching something nasty and because with my luck I'd get some bone-head worker claiming they know how to probe only to have them damage my snake as they are trying to "be the man".

I've considered putting a classified add up on a local classifieds website that is quite popular, but again, I run the risk of getting some tool that may just be looking for a snake to practice on after recently learning how to probe themselves before probing their own collection...

I don't know... maybe I being a little paranoid. It just seems odd to me to put up an add saying: "WANTED - Knowledgable herper to sex ball python via probing"...

There is a vet in my hometown that will see sick or injured reptiles, but he admits he is no super-expert and has never probed a snake...

Anyone have any ideas how I can get this snake sexed?

Thanks.

[sc00t]

take it to the vet... they will sex it

[End Times]

Actually, no they won't. There's only one vet in my area that deals with reptiles and when I asked if he could sex my snake he said he wasn't comfortable probing and had never done it before...

[Serpens]

Are there any breeders in your area? I only ask because that's how I'm going to learn when I pick up my two new corns at the end of the month. I'd suggest a breeder, if you can get to one. The vets in my area say "probing is bad because it's too invasive and damages the snake, no matter who does it". I think that's a load of BS, personally, because I'd think that, if probing was the wrong way to sex snakes, why would the breeders and experts advocate it and practice it? I dunno....that's my advice.

Serpens

[Rikki]

Take your snake to a vet or a breeder.

[End Times]

As I've ALREADY said the vet is not an option. I don't think there are any breeders in the area. I will look into that though. Thanks for the replies.

[pythonmdk]

if your in north bay I know XTREMEEXOTICS is a dealer in that area, I have never dealt with them but they may be your best bet, check out the classifieds and contact them and see if they can help you out. Best of luck.
~John

[End Times]

Thanks, pythonmdk!

Wow, I can't believe there's a breeder in my little crap town! That's great news! I've already messaged them. Thanks again!

[pythonmdk]

I don't think he's a breeder but more of an importer, but he may be able to help anyways.

[Kathy Shaw]

Probing is dangerous and should only be done by an expert. You have a good honest vet if they admit they don't know how to do it and don't want to risk it.
Are you going to keep the snake no matter what sex it is?
If you are you can probably tell the sex when it is a year or more old. Most males produce sperm if you cool them in the fall and you can see sperm if you gently press around their vent.
If you only want to keep a girl (not waste your time raising up a Male you don't want) Then you need to find someone who knows how to sex them either probing or popping. You may need to drive a ways to a show or a professional breeder.
When I started out I drove 600 miles to have a professional sex my babies and teach me how to pop. He said not to probe you can make them infertile by probing especially in babies. He does occasionally probe large adults.
Kathy

[End Times]

I will keep it either way. I just want to know in case I ever decide to try breeding. I've actually been researching balls for several months prior to getting this one. Originally I planned on getting a normal female hatchling from Markus Jayne, but by the time I was ready, his site said he was sold out for the year.

I think breeding will interest me as a hobby in the future once I have a little more experience. In the meantime, I'm going to build a rack and get a few more snakes. I got this first snake for free as it turned up in the animal shelter where I work, and that just gave me the push I needed to get started. I really wanted to get my first snake from a reputable breeder, but heck, I wasn't going to pass up a free one that appears to be in perfect health!

[Edmond Y]

Right on. New born animals give new excitement everytime. I am in the same boat.
Edmond

[Phrasty]

well another option if the snake is young enough is popping. Some people condone it some people dont, you can find a "how to" online. look it over and use your judgement. good luck

[End Times]

I think it's likely too big to pop. It measures in at 37 inches... In any case, I've contacted XTREMEREPTILES and they've graciously agreed to help me out. We've tried to set up two meets all ready, but my job keeps interfering!

[pythonmdk]

glad to hear my reference helped out. Good luck.
John

[DC_Python]

Probing is dangerous and should only be done by an expert. You have a good honest vet if they admit they don't know how to do it and don't want to risk it.
Are you going to keep the snake no matter what sex it is?
If you are you can probably tell the sex when it is a year or more old. Most males produce sperm if you cool them in the fall and you can see sperm if you gently press around their vent.
If you only want to keep a girl (not waste your time raising up a Male you don't want) Then you need to find someone who knows how to sex them either probing or popping. You may need to drive a ways to a show or a professional breeder.
When I started out I drove 600 miles to have a professional sex my babies and teach me how to pop. He said not to probe you can make them infertile by probing especially in babies. He does occasionally probe large adults.
Kathy

One question, how do you become an expert? Everyone has to start somewhere. Either ask around, im sure out of 56,000 people.. 1 will show you how. If not, email a known breeder, and get them to send you info, and try it yourself. Good luck.

[End Times]

Yeah, I'm still gonna have to try and find somebody to help me out. I think XTREMEEXOTICS may have bailed on me. I'm not sure, so if you read this Brandon and I'm mistaken please don't take offense, but the first time we were supposed to meet he claimed to of lost my number when he was supposed to call to set up a time, which was fine because it turned out I was unable to make it anyway. Then the second time, I was to call him after I finished up an investigation for work and when I did there was no answer. Then, the other day he dissappeared all of sudden from a MSN convo when I was asking him about sexing the snake and whether or not he would be getting any snakes in soon.

Now maybe this is all a series of unfortunate coincidences and if so, my bad and I appologize, but I'm wondering if he even really does know how to probe as whenever he talked about sexing it he kept insisting he would "pop" it despite the fact that the snake is over three feet long. When I said I thought the snake would be too big to pop, and asked if he knew how to probe, he kind of hesitated before saying yes so now I'm not sure when I think back on things...

[Crofab]

popping is okay in small snakes, but I would never even attempt it on a 3' BP, or a 3' anything for that matter. You can usually get a good indication of a pythons sex but the spurs on each side of the vent, however this is not always 100% accurate. I'd recommend investing in a set of ball tipped probes and give it a try. It's not that difficult especially on a 3' python, I wouldn't recommend learning on hatchlings or without a ball tipped probe. I learned by just jumping in and going for it.
Heres a link I found that will hopefully show you how. Good luck, let us know what you find out.
http://www.pythons.com/probing.html

[End Times]

Where can I buy probes? And how would I know what size to use as to not injure the snake? I imagine both too large and too small could prove to be detrimental?

[pythonmdk]

it is possible to pop an older snake but it is far more difficult, I would never try it cuz one I have a hard enough time popping a baby that I know popping an adult would be impossible for me. But I have heard lots of the big bp breeders say it is possible to pop one that size. I hope you get in contact with someone soon, and the whole tale and spur size is really unacurate so I wouldn't go by that my friend had one the that looks like is has almost no spurs but when probbed it goes in 9 scales so he's definatly a male. Good luck.
John

[End Times]

Good news, I've heard of a vet that doesn't actually work out of an animal hospital, but apparently runs his practice solely by doing house calls. Apparently he is herp knowledgable, so I will be contacting him to see if he can probe my ball....