Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have recently recieved many requests to sex my baby hondurans (4-5 month babies). I have not probed or popped before, but I have seen it with some instruction on many occasions; I excersize extreme caution upon doing anything with my snakes and am willing to try sexing them. I am not concerned with my handling of the snakes and capability of probing or popping, I am more concerned with the possibility of the snakes contracting onto the probe or twisting when I am sexing. Would tubing the snakes work or is it useless?
If anyone with much experiance in sexing is able to give me a detailed overview of probing, popping or any methods that would sex or make sexing easier I'd be highly appreciative. Thanks alot,
-Sean

1) have someone help you by holding the head and mid bodyi while you concentrate on the tail end
2) don't hold the probe with the butt of the probe poked into your hand, where there's resistence if the snake pokes against it. Instead, hold it between two fingers with the end un-obstructed, so it sort of swings in your fingers and if the snake does move unexpectedly the probe will move with it
3) restrain the tale just ahead of the cloaca so that movement on that end is minimized--if you're right handed, i'd suggest holding the tail just ahead of the cloaca with the thumb and forefinger of your left hand, with the tip of the tail poking away from you. Then maneuver the probe in your right hand (between thumb and forefinger, held as described above.

hope that helps
terry

Thanks alot Terry, this is very helpful. I've got probes and people to help. Thanks again,
-Sean