probing pythons

[snakeitup]

just wondering what is the best way to learn how to probe snakes and pythons of all ages and sizes?
cheers

 

[Harro]

Asked a similiar question last night hoping somebody, with the expertise, may offer to help - the standard response was that I have to take it to a vet who specialises in reptiles

Cheers,
Harro

 

[aussiesnakelover]

im not expert but i got a breeder to teach me, im not cofident yet

 

[swampie]

Ask a good herp vet or experienced keeper to teach you the correct way to probe , i dont think it's a good idea to read about it and then go and try to do it you may accidently injure your snake .

 

[southy]

dead snakes on the road are another good way to practice

 

[zulu]

re probing

I took up probing pythons after a year when i had 16 anterisias that i purchased and half were wrongly sexed by supposedly experienced herpers popping them and using other methods like it got bitten so must be male.Over the years now probing i havent been wrong thank god,although i tested pilbarras mathod of sexing and it was correct backed up by probing.Simple procedure probing,i learnt from a book then,tryd it out on a snake,common sense really,be gentle and with common sense select an appropriate size probe.If your a member of a herp society and you go to a meeting and ask afew people i believe that you would have no worrys finding a person willing to demonstrate the procedure.

 

[Slateman]

HI Snakeitup, I would recommend you to go to
account setings, edit your information and fill in aproximate location.
You have mabe experiance keeper in your area wiling to help. If your location is not showing under your nickname you can mis out on help.
I am wiling to help people close to my address.

 

[zulu]

re probing

I could assist members in sydney west slatey.

 

[PilbaraPythons]

Snakeitup
This should help you http://www.pilbarapythons.com/sexing.htm

 

[peterjohnson64]

Promise Zulu & Slatey??? I'll take you up on that.

 

[zulu]

re probing

Not a problem pete,would be nice to meet you

 

[Barney]

Well Ive been shown by the best and was advised to practice on the dead ones first .

All good once technique was mastered

ha Im no expert always learning

 

[peterjohnson64]

mmmm, all I need is a dead one now. Maybe I will get a call out soon.

 

[yommy]

Defineately get someone experienced to teach / show you, once you've got the hang of it, it's easy but like everyones said previously take care and be really gentle as it would be very easy to cause damage.
I read pilbara's advise on his web site about doing it by viewing tail area and it works too, very interesting, though i do confirm that tecnique by probing to be 100% but so far can't fault it either.
There wil be someone in the herp world who'll be happy to show you. It's all about learning, though i never probe hatchies or really small snakes but that's just me until there atleast 6 months old, each to there own.....

 

[krusty]

Snakeitup
This should help you httns.com/sexing.htm

thanks for posting that pilbra it will help a lot of new comers that want
to know about sexing there snakes..

 

[snakeitup]

thanks guys for all help, its great to be a member of such a fantastic communtity where people are willing to help and give advise at no real benefit to themselves, i really appreciate it.
cheers james

 

[jordo]

Practising on dead ones is a great idea. I found a dead copperhead when walking the dog and was going to go back and grab it to play forensic scientist but went back and it was gone.
Thanks pilbara that was really helpfull, i've learnt so much about snakes since joining this site, i wish I still had 1

 

[Slateman]

Peter You are welcome any time. If you like to see me, PM me and we can have bit of hand on herp time together. I am not guru like some of experianced people here, but I do know how to sex snakes by probing and done this many times for my self and my mates.
And yes, adult snakes can be succesfully sexed by shape of tale.