My BP has cracked/dry looking eyes?? Im really scared

[OrientalSpade]

So i relatively recently got my first ball python, a het albino female (Whom I've lovingly dubbed Roxy).
And a while ago I noticed her eyes had begun to look cracked/dry, and i know it's not a retained eye cap because both caps were on her last shed, and the cracked appearance started becoming apparent just a couple days after she shed. I've heard it might be a humidity issue, so i started spritzing the warm side of her cage down with water to bring up the humidity, and covering two thirds of the top of the cage (it's a screen topped tank) and I've been doing this for a few weeks but I've seen no improvement. I've been replacing her water regularily too. I'm really scared that my poor Roxy might go blind ;-;
She's also been making a kind of soft whistling noise when she breaths, but it doesn't seem to harmful to her. Though I haven't really had her long enough to know her FULL personality. it doesn't seem to have changed much other than the fact that shes been moving around her tank a bit more in the last couple days.

[PitOnTheProwl]

What are your temperatures and humidity?

[OrientalSpade]

Im not sure what the exact humidity is, because the guy reccominding all the stuff didnt mention that we should have gotten a reader, but the temperature is around 80-85 0n the warm side and around 70-75 on the cool side.

[BCS]

Your temps are too low for starters. The warm side should be 90-92F and cool side should be 80-85F. As for humidity it should be around 60%. This could be caused by low humidity or dehydration. If there is a large bowl of water in her cage and her skin is not wrinkled I doubt that she is dehydrated. What kind of substrate are you using. Best substrate for humidity is coconut husk or cypress mulch. I suggest you get sphagnum moss and place it all around her tank and in her hides to up humidity. Cracked eye caps will not heal per-say. It will take a few sheds for the eye caps to get back to normal. Which means keeping the humidity up for then next few months. During this period it may be best to stick her in a tub enclosure where humidity can be controlled a little easier. It is always good to have a back up "medical" tub container anyway just in case something is wrong in the tank such as mites or an RI.

The whistling is very common especially when handling. If your ball python starts making popping noises, then you should be concerned but not with whistling.

[OrientalSpade]

Alright, I'll try to get some more powerful bulbs for her, thank you sososooo much I REALLY appreciate it. I'm using Cypress mulch for her currently and her skin is not wrinkled. Unfortunately, I do not have a tub enclosure for her currently, but i will be sure to talk to my dad about aquiring a humidity reader. Would it be alright/acceptable if i just tried the moss for now? We're REALLY short on money and having a kinda hard time right now, so im not sure we'd be able to get a proper tub enclosure for her ;-;

[BCS]

Powerful bulbs? You have a heat pad right? You really should get a heat pad if you do not have one. You will also need to get the thermostat for the heat pad. You can just buy a lamp dimmer switch and use that as a thermostat. Use the moss, it will help.

[OrientalSpade]

We don't have a heat pad, or a thermostat for one. Currently we're just using heat bulbs/lamp because that's what the man at the reptile store reccommended because we're quite strapped on money and couldnt afford the big fancy stuff like heat pads and such. ;-;

[bcr229]

We don't have a heat pad, or a thermostat for one. Currently we're just using heat bulbs/lamp because that's what the man at the reptile store reccommended because we're quite strapped on money and couldnt afford the big fancy stuff like heat pads and such. ;-;

You really need to save up and get a UTH + thermostat, or ask family members for them for Christmas (or amazon.com gift cards...). A vet bill to treat a respiratory infection will cost more than the UTH + thermostat.

[BCS]

Okay, I really don't want to sound mean... If you cannot afford proper husbandry for an animal, you really should not get one. What happens when your ball python gets sick and it needs a vet? Seems a little unfair. I understand what it means to have no money. I lived for 4 years on welfare. After that I worked for minimum wage at a coffee shop. I know what it means to have little money. You cannot have an animal in a situation where you cannot afford to get it what it needs. It seems unfair, I know but the ball python did not ask to be put in a situation where it cannot live in home that it needs. You need to find a heat pad... Kijiji or craigs list is a good place to start for a second hand one. Dimmer switches can be found for $10 at any hardware store. If you have it... soak a few pieces of paper towels and place them staggered around the cage. Works well but moss would do better. Cover the top of the cage with Aluminum foil leaving a small hole for the heat lamp. This will help prevent the moisture from escaping.

The best place to get information is on sites like this one and google is a really good place to start. Pet store employees are horrible for information. We can help you where we can on this site and will give you the information you need. It is up to you to choose what you think is right.

[ECechoHO]

OrientalSpade <---Nice screen name, i'll PM you a method i use...