Reptile & Amphibian Forums

today i noticed that one of my balls had urinated and there was alittle orange in it.

two weeks ago i took my snakes to the vet and i had the vet sex them, she didnt have probes but she had something simmilar she only tried to sex one but when she started i realized she didnt know how to sex, she put the probe the wrong way(she put it up the anus) i told her how to do it and she tried the right way but the probe didnt fit, is the blood from a damaged sexual organ or from putting the probe up the snakes butt?

the vet got some real probes and i have another appointment, should i cancel? i live in bennington vermont is there anywhere else i could go?
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jake

my addiction:
2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (mazy)

Cancel and take the snakes to a better vet, and if you dont know how to probe yourself, then watch and learn, so if you buy more in the future you can sex them yourself,
also, did the vet use any lube? I know that a friend of mine had the same problem with a vet that didnt know how to sex snakes, and instead of bleeding the area just swelled up, after it was taken to a more knowledgeble vet it was determined that since there was no lube it literally tore apart the insides,
thanks
tony butler

yes we did use lube that sounds so wrong!

can organs be dammaged by trying to pop the hemipenis if its done wrong?
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jake

my addiction:
2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (mazy)

On occasion there can be an orangish color with urates and there can be some liquid. If it is obviously blood and red I would be more concerned. I too have had a vet (not sexing) but during a necropsy look for hemipenes in the wrong place. He got a little tip to carry onto the next necropsy. I didnt mind this since it was nice of him to allow us to use his facility and tools for our necropsy (I think he wanted to see it lol).

Anyway, sometimes it is useful to not use lube but you need to be sure the probes are lubricated by the snakes natural mucus. You CAN go to far and break through a hemipene or have it get caught and rip the hemipene upon exit. You will likely see blood if this happens. Be careful and try and learn from someone you trust.