Dented eye

I noticed the other day that Marshalls eye was dented. It is back to normal now. I've heard this can be a sign of dehydration, but He's been drinking a lot lately and the humidity is good. Could it have to do with being in shed?


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If the snake just shed then it's most likely a retained eye cap . It probably got taken off so it looks normal now .

He has not shed yet. He is in blue.


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Originally Posted by gameonpython

I noticed the other day that Marshalls eye was dented. It is back to normal now. I've heard this can be a sign of dehydration, but He's been drinking a lot lately and the humidity is good. Could it have to do with being in shed?

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How are you measuring his humidity, and where is the probe/gauge?

Dehydration....... Double check your humidity.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

How are you measuring his humidity, and where is the probe/gauge?

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I don't really measure humidity. The probes are inaccurate once water gets on them, I have an analog for a general idea. Right now I would say humidity is 60-80%.


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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Dehydration....... Double check your humidity.

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How can that be? A couple days ago he had a big drink, and just last night he drank for 4 minutes straight. Humidity has been bumped since he is in shed, I'm not sure how much more water I can give him!


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Where are you placing the hygrometer?

I can tell you your humidity is not anywhere close to 80%. I keep tropical frogs, and you have to REALLY go out of your way (like misting ten times a day and saturating substrate) to keep humidity that high. If that's even part of your estimate for a BP tank, I imagine it means whatever hygrometer you're using is just about useless.

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Originally Posted by gameonpython

I don't really measure humidity. The probes are inaccurate once water gets on them, I have an analog for a general idea. Right now I would say humidity is 60-80%.

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Yeah..... First off why/how are you getting enough water on them to flood them? Second a general idea..... The eye dents give me an exact idea that the humidity is too low, there is no way to argue that.

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Originally Posted by gameonpython

I don't really measure humidity. The probes are inaccurate once water gets on them, I have an analog for a general idea. Right now I would say humidity is 60-80%.

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Analog probes are extremely inaccurate, which is why I asked. Your critter's dented eyes and water consumption are telling you that he's too dry.

So, what is your setup like? What do you use for substrate, what kind of enclosure is it (tub, tank, PVC box), how are you heating it, etc?

If the snake hasn't shed yet and the eye is dented it means it's definrely too dry in there . Only reason it would happen . Don't trust analogy hygrometers. Like others have said , you really have to go out your way to get 80 percent , ou would see heavy condensation in the tank , lots of water droplets.

Get a digital hygrometer and you'll see the humidity is actually very low .

I'm also going with low humidity. Last year I was still using the round analog dial ones from petsmart. It said it was at 50% and I had to mist 4x a day to keep it there. Got a new one from Walmart (a digital) and humidity was at 30-40%. I tweaked the top foil covering and added sphagnum moss in Dixie cups and it holds at 50-60% without misting.

Snake would have dented eyes (looked sort of hexagonal) and they would go away after he soaked and I misted. Like Pitt said, there really isn't any other reason for dented eye caps (especially if no recent shed happened).

Humidity is the most likely culprit, since he didn't shed it one piece last time. You're keeping Marshall in a tank, right? Those can be a bear to keep the humidity in the right place through out the whole enclosure. If he's in blue right now, try adding a humid hide so he'll have the right level of moisture for this up coming shed. For raising it in the whole tank, try adding containers with damp sphagnum moss and/or changing to a substrate that holds moisture better, like cypress. If you have one of those screen top tanks, they will sieve moisture and heat like no other mother, so put some aluminum foil over the screen to trap both.

The hygrometer is near his hide, where he spends most of his time. I also keep tropical frogs, so I am well aware of humidity levels. You are all right, my hygrometer isn't completely accurate. Like I said before, 60-80% is just a general statement of where the humidity is at. It's about 80 right after I spray, and slowly decreases to 60 as time passes. The enclosure is a tank, with cypress mulch, a towel on screen top, and damp moss in his hide. I am heating it with a heat pad on the bottom. I do see condensation in the tank actually, which is another way I measure humidity. Instead of adding a humid hide(he won't use it, loves his hot hide) I just add moss inside his hide when he sheds.

If dehydration is the only cause of this, then he must've not drank enough water. Now that he has drank, (I've witnessed him twice) his eyes are not dented anymore.


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Originally Posted by gameonpython

The hygrometer is near his hide, where he spends most of his time. I also keep tropical frogs, so I am well aware of humidity levels. You are all right, my hygrometer isn't completely accurate. Like I said before, 60-80% is just a general statement of where the humidity is at. It's about 80 right after I spray, and slowly decreases to 60 as time passes. The enclosure is a tank, with cypress mulch, a towel on screen top, and damp moss in his hide. I am heating it with a heat pad on the bottom. I do see condensation in the tank actually, which is another way I measure humidity. Instead of adding a humid hide(he won't use it, loves his hot hide) I just add moss inside his hide when he sheds.

If dehydration is the only cause of this, then he must've not drank enough water. Now that he has drank, (I've witnessed him twice) his eyes are not dented anymore.

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Then why would you ask if you already know you are not going to change anything?

To work everyone up its tipical for thise person. Got a t-stat yet for that heat pad python?....

Eye dents are from mild dehydration, always. Usually they are linked to humidity levels but it takes many days to form and many days to correct. If your humidity is low from a week and then corrected it many still dent and stay dented for a week or more even after the hydration is corrected. It is slow to occur and slow to respond. Snakes have a very slow metabolism, it doesn't just mean they digest slowly.

Relative humidity is A, relative... and B, a percentage.

It is relative to temperature and a percentage of what you have against what you could have. This also changes. It is quite possible to have 100% humidity and still not have enough to keep a royal hydrated. Condensation tells nothing other than the surface that is condensing is below the dew point.

The best example is if I asked for a 15% deposit on a snake. But I never tell you how much the snake is. The % is pointless.

What is your ambient air temperature?

[QUOTE=kitedemon;2330333]Eye dents are from mild dehydration, always. Usually they are linked to humidity levels but it takes many days to form and many days to correct. If your humidity is low from a week and then corrected it many still dent and stay dented for a week or more even after the hydration is corrected. It is slow to occur and slow to respond. Snakes have a very slow metabolism, it doesn't just mean they digest slowly.

Relative humidity is A, relative... and B, a percentage.

It is relative to temperature and a percentage of what you have against what you could have. This also changes. It is quite possible to have 100% humidity and still not have enough to keep a royal hydrated. Condensation tells nothing other than the surface that is condensing is below the dew point.

The best example is if I asked for a 15% deposit on a snake. But I never tell you how much the snake is. The % is pointless.

What is your ambient air temperature?[/QUOTE

Thanks. My ambient temp is actually a bit low right now, I ordered a heat lamp but I'm still waiting on it. Could this be the problem?


FrostysBP, yes I got a rheostat.


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A heat lamp is going to lower your humidity even more.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

A heat lamp is going to lower your humidity even more.

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Yes, I realize that. There's not much else I can do to raise the heat though, unless I spend over 100$ on a rhp. I don't want a room heater because marshall is in my bedroom and I would rather not be at 80f all the time. That's okay though, there is many tricks for raising humidity right? Damp moss, a wet towel.... Etc. if you have any other suggestions feel free to share.


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Yes this is your issue, if your ambients are low 60% is not enough. Depending on how low not nearly enough. The heat lamp will increase the air temp and allow the air to carry more water not less. They actually can help humidity not hurt in it is evidenced by the fact the % lowers.

If I ask for a 10% deposit on a given 100$ snake I want 10$ but if you change the snake to a 1000$ snake 10$ is now only 1%. RH is a percent of what you have against what you could have a dropping % only means you have more potential not lower water. (IE you still have 10$ if it is 10% or 1%)

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

Yes this is your issue, if your ambients are low 60% is not enough. Depending on how low not nearly enough. The heat lamp will increase the air temp and allow the air to carry more water not less. They actually can help humidity not hurt in it is evidenced by the fact the % lowers.

If I ask for a 10% deposit on a given 100$ snake I want 10$ but if you change the snake to a 1000$ snake 10$ is now only 1%. RH is a percent of what you have against what you could have a dropping % only means you have more potential not lower water. (IE you still have 10$ if it is 10% or 1%)

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Makes sense. Unfortunately there's not much I can do for him now until the heat lamp arrives:(


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Hey, if your still using the tank purchase a "versa top" for the gallon size you own. That will help solve the humidity, and it will help your ambient air temperatures. Stay in piece and not pieces. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Hey, if your still using the tank purchase a "versa top" for the gallon size you own. That will help solve the humidity, and it will help your ambient air temperatures. Stay in piece and not pieces. :gj:

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Thanks, I will certainly check this out!


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