Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was at a pet store today and noticed that the guy was probing ball pythons and sticking the probe inside towards the body/head ... i thought when u probe u put the probe in the directions of the tail .. as in up the tail end and then count scales .. this guy was putting the probe in downwards towards the oppostite end of the tail and counting it down the belly scales after ..

IS HE DOING IT RIGHT OR WRONG? WHICH IS THE RIGHT WAY ? DO THEY BOTH WORK ? DOES ONE WAY HARM THE SNAKE MORE THEN THE OTHER?

any info would be appreciated .. thanks

n/p

The guy at the Pet Shop is an idiot!! Apart from puncturing the cloaca and/or the intestine, he will sex nothing in that manner. The probe is inserted 'gently' towards the TAIL where the sex organs are situated.

he be taught by someone experienced. No reason to allow him to keep doing this to other animals.

JY is right "People really do suck!".
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I've seen people use the probe to lift the anal plate the way you describe, but then flip it around towards the tail to do the actual probing. Are you sure this isn't what you saw? Actually probing towards the head will do nothing but possibly injure the animal.

Mark

Hope it helps.
Probing diagram

Have the same diagram. Looks like Big Joe's handiwork.

Mike

n/p