Ball Pythons eyes appear cracked, help?

[700deer]

A little back story to help explain what's going on with my snake.

I got my ball python 2 years ago as a "rescue". I was told he was 8 years old. He was in absolutely terrible care, first powerfed, then fed almost nothing so he was very skinny. He had no heat and was sitting in feces. I assume he had a lot of bad sheds because most of his tail had fallen off. I got him setup better and got him eating again and today he is no longer skinny and never misses a meal.

I have him at 83-85 ambient temp with a CHE, 50-60% humidity, and he sheds well. I always check him and his shed after and his eyecaps always come off. I noticed when I was given him, his eyes appeared "cracked" he shed in one piece that next shed and eyecaps had come off with the shed, however his eyes still looked cracked. After having him for a while, it almost seemed like he had a hard time seeing things. He bumps into things a lot and when he does, he scares himself, hisses, or balls up. He doesn't react at all if I move my hand in front of him, like my boa does. I'm pretty stumped and hope someone can help me figure this out.

My questions are, is this a very old retained eyecap? If so, how do I safely remove it? Is this why it appears his vision is impaired? Is this something else? I just want to do what is best for him and give him a better life than what he had for so long. Thank you!

Also, I would like to attatch a picture to show his eyes, but I am not sure how?

[zina10]

Try this:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-Post-Pictures

"cracked" looking eyes are usually old eye caps OR signs that your BP is dehydrated.

Try to post a pic and perhaps it will be more clear what is going on. Kudos saving that poor baby !!

[700deer]

Both of his eyes look like this. He just shed yesterday. If they are stuck eye caps, how can I get them off? I'm a little nervous, I just don't want to hurt him or anything.

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[zina10]

Did he have a "good" shed ? All in one piece ?
If so, you should be able to see if the eyecaps are on the shed.

There are ways to remove them, but without knowing how many old ones there are (if several, you could do damage) I'm hesitant to tell you to go ahead and remove them.

Lets wait until more people give their thoughts.

[700deer]

The last one was very good and had eyecaps with the shes, this one came off in a couple big pieces, but the old skin on the head had eyecaps too.

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[Gc99]

Those eyes dont look good to me, I think ypu should think about a trip to the vet

[zina10]

And you say his eyes have always looked like this ? Since you've gotten him ?

If the eye caps were on the last 2 sheds, then this can't be "old" eye caps. Wonder if his eyes are damaged ? Could he be dehydrated ?

[700deer]

He doesn't appear dehydrated to me, his humidity us reading @ 55% right now and he isn't wrinkly or anything. I use an acurite digital thermometer to measure it and so far it has been pretty accurate for me.
And yes, he's had it since I got him. I thought at first it'd go away with a few sheds but he kept shedding fine and his eyes stayed the same. I thought they might have been damaged too. I don't know the full extent of what he went through with his previous owner, just what she told me on how she cared for him and what state he was in at that time. I tried searching online a few times to see if anyone had a similar situation but haven't found much information other than eyecaps being stuck. :|

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[zina10]

I think it would be worth it to consult a reptile vet.

However, in this case, it would have to be a vet that is HIGHLY experienced with snakes. Or else, it won't do you much good at all Most vets have a basic knowledge how to treat basic and common problems. Most would probably think this is a common un-shed eye cap. But if the sheds contain the caps, then that is not what it can be.

You are absolutely sure the eye caps were on all the sheds ? At least the most recent ones ? If so...it can't be old eye caps.

[700deer]

Very positive. I double checked this one and touched the eyecaps in the shed with a pen just in case I mightve mistaken them being there.

That is a good idea on the vet. There are actually quite a few in the immediate area but my dog's vet in town is very knowledgeable (at least with dogs) and I'll ask him, if not I have several others closeby that I will ask if they are familiar with an issue like this one.

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