Probing a female ball python

ID: Probing a female ball python

Remarks:
The smooth, blunt stainless steel probe is inserted into the cloacal opening, and then gently pushed down toward the tip of the tail. The object is to see how deeply the probe can pass into the tail of the snake. Then the depth is marked with a fingernail, the probe is withdrawn, and then measured against the scales on the underside of the tail to see just how deep it passed. This female ball python could be probed to a depth equal to three scales on the underside of the tail.