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Probing vs Popping??

L

Lori

New member
Hi, I have been looking to find a answer for probing vs popping.

I have consuted with many different people and no one seemed to give the same answer. Can a hatchling be probed or does that injure his/her reproductive organs??
One person tod me to use special blunt tipped probes, and others have told me NEVER!
I read in Kathy Loves book how to pop and I tried it on my male (that had been probed) and it worked. I have been told that it can be dangerous so I don't want to do it to my others, but I also don't want to walk blindly into buying a so called female and it turnig out to b a male again.
I also read somewhere, and seen here, that you never pop large snakes, but at what point are they considered large? And how could I learn correctly how to probe? I don't feel that looking at the pictures in the book would be sufficient, but the guy who probed, or attempted to probe my male (prior to him showing his gender) doesn't appear to be that knowledgable.
I would love advice. Thanks in advance.

Lori

PS. I really am not 100% sure of my corns genders listed below.:confused:

Also, I wasn't sure where to put this, but I hoped the breeders could give sound advice.
 
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Lori,
Popping works well on hatchlings on up to about 16-17 inches. I usually wait 3 weeks after hatchlings are born to sex them using this method. Snakes larger than this should be probed. The muscles in the tail (where the hemipenes are housed in the male) grow to strong for popping. The younger the snake the easier popping is, however this also leaves room for some error. Both male and female corns have glands in the tail, (which to the inexperienced herper) could be mistaken for hemipenes. As you already know popping is not that difficult, just be gentle and don't just squeeze the snake’s tail, roll your thumb towards the cloaca.
Probing is used for larger animals, I learned to probe on my own, however it is much safer if someone with experience shows this procedure to you. Always use the proper tools, NO MAKESHIFT PROBES! If you insist on learning it yourself, read more about it, get yourself a video showing the procedure, and then start with a snake you already know the sex of, this way you will know what to expect from male or female. If there is every any doubt in your confidence, Please wait and get someone to help you. Most adult corns can be sexed by looking at the taper and thickness of there tail. This takes some practice, and does lack the accuracy of probing, but it can be done safely.

Best of Luck!
Matt L.
 
Thanks Matt, for the help. My main problem seems that No one in my area knows how to probe, and I am new so I don't know any experienced herp lovers in my secluded hometown area :)

Where do I get a video tape??
 
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