retained eye caps - do they look silvery-gray?

[tracy0416]

Hi all: I believe my Ben has retained his eye caps during this shed. All other skin came off (in one piece with some rips) but the eye caps seem to have not come off as they appear slightly dented in spots, not smooth like normal and they appear silvery gray in colour. His Eyes always look deep black after a shed but not this time. His eyes were black, went blue, he shed and a couple of days later, his eyes went silvery.

I feel confident in my ability to remove them as I have read a fabulous pictorial on how to do so and I was a nurse for many years so that stuff doesn't phase me. My question is,

how can one be SURE the eye caps have been retained? I don't want to hurt Ben by trying to remove eye caps that are fresh. These don't look fresh but I want to be sure.

I'll await a few sound responses before proceeding.
Thanks,
Tracy

[Krazy99CL]

here are some good articals on it. hope it helps you out tracy.
http://www.joecompelreptiles.com/bal..._cap/index.asp

http://www.ballpython.com/page.php?topic=ballfaq

[tracy0416]

here are some good articals on it. hope it helps you out tracy.
http://www.joecompelreptiles.com/bal..._cap/index.asp

http://www.ballpython.com/page.php?topic=ballfaq

Hey! That's the pictorial I spoke of (Joe Compel). Isn't that great? So great in fact that I went back to it just now and I must say, those pictures he gives with examples of retianed eye caps do appears silvery, wouldn't you agree?

I'll read the other things you sent me. Thank you so much for responding ; )

[hoo-t]

Your best two indications of retained eyecaps are the silvery coloring of the eyes after a shed, and if you still have it, missing eyecaps in the actual shed. I didn't check out the link, and I don't think Joe Compel would suggest it, but please, please don't use tape!!!! I usually allow my snake to "hide" in a warm wet towel in my lap for up to 30-45 minutes to soften the eyecap and allow moisture in behind it. Then I'll either gently rub with the towel, or use a wet q-tip to gently rub the eyecap loose. Finally, it won't hurt the snake to just leave the eyecap there until the next shed.

Steve

[tracy0416]

I didn't check out the link, and I don't think Joe Compel would suggest it, but please, please don't use tape!!!!

Steve

Actually, tape is one of the things Joe suggests however, he stresses the importance of being double extra special SURE the eyecaps are in fact retained. Also, he tells you not to use the really sticky tapes, but rather, to use scotch tapes, mentioning that if the tape is too sticky a scale of skin can come off. I imagine that type of thing would occur if the snake squirmed "into" the tape.

Tonight after work I'll do the soak and q-tip thing and keep y'all posted.

Thanks!