I agree, with proper training, tools and experience, probing is likely the closest method to 100% short of raising them up and see which ones have babies.

Problem is, IMO, probing is a delicate procedure that really requires proper training by someone who knows what/how to probe. NOT someting you can easily watch a vid or read a post and be able to safely perform.

I personally have not had the opportunity to be trained on the safe usage of probes. Closest I got was a friend coming over to probe a subadult and that was not easy or clear results. Later determined to be a male and was likely clenching its muscles tightly against the probe.

I have been shown/trained how to pop and while it does seem to work very well, I can't help feel that it's invasive and still has possibility of damaging organs etc.

Palpation was shown to me by a friend and I was unable to feel the bb's. Admittedly was shown a different way, sliding both finger and thumb and I could feel vertebrae moving so was a little chicken. Much later tried it my own way as described and was quite successful. So been doing it that way ever since. Even trained my daughters how to palpate and get some help sometimes.
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Thanks,


Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com



0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

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