Ball Python Eye Indent

Earlier today I noticed a small indent in my 8 month old male BP Charles' eye, this really shook me up, I was terrified for my little guy! I looked up forums and websites but got no straight answer or instruction I don't know what to do or what's at risk, I don't want him to lose his eyesight! Some said it was humidity, some said it was a retained eye cap (He always has great sheds) some said it was a scar on his eye from a mouse or rat (I feed frozen thawed exactly for this reason) What's the problem and how do I fix it?

I tried taking a picture but it's pretty small and it's also hard holding his head as he's a little head shy.

Oh no! I don't know how to help, but I hope he's okay 💖

From what I have read and seen dented eyes are usually due to dehydration.

What is your setup and husbandry like? The more you tell us the more we can help you.

What type of enclosure? How is it heated? How is heat regulated?
What substrate? How many hides? Water bowls?
What are your temps? Humidity? How and where are you measuring?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

From what I have read and seen dented eyes are usually due to dehydration.

What is your setup and husbandry like? The more you tell us the more we can help you.

What type of enclosure? How is it heated? How is heat regulated?
What substrate? How many hides? Water bowls?
What are your temps? Humidity? How and where are you measuring?

---

I use a 20 gallon long terrarium with a lid and lock. It's heated by an under tank heat pad. I use thermometers to check the heat. I use Coconut Husk substrate. He has one hide on his warm side, I'm working on getting him one for his cold side. He has a water bowl big enough for him to soak in in between his hot and cold side, it's filled with clean water every other day. My temps sit at about 85F on his hot side, his humidity is about 50-55% I use a spray bottle every so often. I'm having difficulties answering your last question, can you elaborate?

Are your heat sources on thermostats?

And to elaborate: are you using a probed thermometer to measure the surface temps? Are you using a temp gun?
Are you measuring actual surface temps? or the substrate temps? or just ambient temps?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Are your heat sources on thermostats?

And to elaborate: are you using a probed thermometer to measure the surface temps? Are you using a temp gun?
Are you measuring actual surface temps? or the substrate temps? or just ambient temps?

---

I use a probed thermometer to measure the temps, substrate and surface, I check these temps every week or so; or when there's an increase or decrease of temperature in my house or outside.

Ok, so am I safe to say you're not regulating your UTH with a thermostat?
If not, you are risking serious injury to your snake running a UTH unregulated. Many UTHs can have heat spikes as high as 120, which would seriously burn your snake, and surprisingly short periods of time with excessive heat can be fatal.

What is your surface temp inside the hot side hide, directly on the glass??

You're only offering one hide, so in order to feel safe and secure your BP is probably using his only hide, even if it gets too hot. So your snake may be risking burns because he only has one place to hide.

The temperature directly on the glass is 94-95, though I can insure he never directly touches the glass as there is a good inch of substrate between him and the glass. You are correct, i don't have a thermostat in which i can change the temperature but as I said earlier I do check the temperature very often. He doesn't sit in his hide all day, he self temperature regulates like any other BP by going to his cold side. He has a snake plant and a branch (store brand it's 100% safe) on his cold side that he can go underneath, I know this isn't a viable substitute for a hide, i'm working on getting another one, money is tight. Sorry for questioning you about this, but how does this have anything to do with his eye? it's not a scratch or burn.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CharlesAndMonty

The temperature directly on the glass is 94-95, though I can insure he never directly touches the glass as there is a good inch of substrate between him and the glass. You are correct, i don't have a thermostat in which i can change the temperature but as I said earlier I do check the temperature very often. He doesn't sit in his hide all day, he self temperature regulates like any other BP by going to his cold side. He has a snake plant and a branch (store brand it's 100% safe) on his cold side that he can go underneath, I know this isn't a viable substitute for a hide, i'm working on getting another one, money is tight. Sorry for questioning you about this, but how does this have anything to do with his eye? it's not a scratch or burn.

---

You really need a thermostat. An inch of substrate is nothing, the snake will push it out of the way eventually and risk a bad burn.
You said you check the temp frequently "every week or so". That is incredibly infrequent actually. You should be checking temps at minimum on a daily basis. Good that you have a probed thermometer on the hot spot but it needs to be checked every day and the UTH needs to be regulated. Good thermostats are an initial investment but they pay for themselves fairly quickly in trips to the vet that they help prevent.
Back to the dent.. probably humidity related. Screen top cage? It needs to be covered with something to keep humidity from escaping i.e. Plastic wrap, plexiglass, etc. They get eye dents if kept too dry but correct easily with humidity related husbandry issues addressed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CharlesAndMonty

The temperature directly on the glass is 94-95, though I can insure he never directly touches the glass as there is a good inch of substrate between him and the glass. You are correct, i don't have a thermostat in which i can change the temperature but as I said earlier I do check the temperature very often. He doesn't sit in his hide all day, he self temperature regulates like any other BP by going to his cold side. He has a snake plant and a branch (store brand it's 100% safe) on his cold side that he can go underneath, I know this isn't a viable substitute for a hide, i'm working on getting another one, money is tight. Sorry for questioning you about this, but how does this have anything to do with his eye? it's not a scratch or burn.

---

I can ensure you that snakes can and will burrow, therefor, yes your snake can touch the glass. An inch of substrate can be burrowed into extremely easily and I'm willing to bet your snake does, in fact, touch the glass.

Checking temps weekly is definitely not checking "very often". I check my temps several times a day in all of my enclosures. And 94-95 is too hot, you are better off in the 90-92 range.

If money is tight, what do you intend to do when your unregulated UTH does indeed burn your snake?

And I'm asking these questions to help you and your snake. The more we know, the better we can assess the situation to accurately give you advice.

Thank you for all the help everyone, I will invest in a thermostat for my heat pads and I will certainly raise the humidity and keep it at a stable 60% Turns out it was at around 35, which is not good, it's a dry summer here in Dundas. I will check my temps and all as much as possible. A quick update.. (I noticed the eye indent at about 9AM and made this post like 12 hrs later) it is now 12:21 i'm getting ready for bed and i decided to check him out, the dent has shrunk a bit after spraying his tank and placing him near his water getting him to drink some :D (Not forcing.. obviously) I will update you if I notice anything else, thanks again.
(PS. apparently the dent will go away after their next shed)

Just a few other things to consider: If you're using a stick-on analog hygrometer they are wildly inaccurate and basically useless (off by up to 20%)

I would strongly advise unplugging the UTH until you can get it regulated.

The thermometer I got was recommended by a trusted breeder, since I have other reptiles I have tested their thermometers on my BPs tank, it's the same throughout 2 other brand thermometers so I know it's accurate, thanks though.

Well, this breeder failed to tell you to buy a thermostat, which is probably the most important piece of equipment you will need.

And I inquired about your hygrometer

Good news, my breeder friend just got back to me and told me he'd help take care of the situation, 'take me under his wing' :P he said the indented eye is common and doesn't harm the reptile if treated asap, i'm undergoing his treatment schedule, thank all of you for helping me, you helped calm me down, if it wasnt for this thread I don't know what i would've done aha! He said it'll be as good as new by his next shed. I did forget to mention the hygrometer, i apologize. I'm not sure if you want me to update you or close the thread, your choice..

Glad to hear you're getting some guidance. I always think it's best to get info from multiple sources though. If you go by just one person's advice you could be headed down the wrong road. I'm not implying this is the case in this situation, just trying to help you and your animal out.

How long have you had your snake?

I've had my ball python since January, he's not my first though, I've had a corn snake since December. I got the Ball Python off that breeder.

Ok cool. If I can make a suggestion, I would say to read over the stickies on this forum on how to properly set up your enclosures. I'm guessing since your heat isn't regulated in your BP enclosure that your corns enclosure is also not regulated.

I honestly can't stress enough how important a thermostat is. If you care to search for snake burns online, it may open your eyes.

I'm not trying to sound rude, but it sounds like you've still got a bit to learn. We were all new once, so I understand, there is a lot to learn.

It's important to check your temps, etc... much more frequently than once a week.
Yes, snakes do burrow and your snakes are, in fact, touching the glass surface. Corns generally like to burrow more so than BPs. You ensured me otherwise, but the facts are snakes burrow and an inch of substrate isn't going to stop your snake from touching the glass with ease.
Your temps and humidity are both off a bit.
And yes, the eye indentation is a pretty simple fix. Despite what your breeder says, it is not common unless your husbandry is off. I've never had a snake with dented eyes...

I'm not trying to insult you or come down hard on you. I just truly want what's best for you and your snakes. The quicker you get things right the more you can stress less and enjoy your snakes. And I promise, once you have things dialed in it gets much easier.
Also, having a little cash stashed away for an emergency vet visit or malfunctioning equipment is always a good idea. If you need a hide in a pinch, a simple plastic bowl or from the dollar store or a butter tub with an entrance cut out will work for now.

Good luck! We're here and happy to help if you have any more questions...

oh...and again, I highly recommend unplugging unregulated UTHs

Sometimes they "bonk" their eye off something in the cage - it happened to one of mine while in shed.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...deyeshrunk.JPG

Once she shed everything was fine. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dr del

Sometimes they "bonk" their eye off something in the cage - it happened to one of mine while in shed.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...deyeshrunk.JPG

Once she shed everything was fine. :)

---

Thank you for sharing, I had never seen this. I love learning new things about these fascinating animals.

I had the same exact issue about three months ago in a setup almost exactly like yours during a very dry Chicago March. It was absolutely the lack of humidity in the tank, even though my digital hygro read at a constant 50 to 60%. I increased the humidity by creating a "sauna" with a 4x6 Tupperware container and lid. I cut a golf ball sized hole in the lid of the Tupperware, filled the container about 1/2" of wet paper towels, then snapped the lid back on. I placed this Tupperware on the warm side so the UTH would warm and create evaporation in the "sauna." My girl never actually went in the sauna, even though she could've easily fit. Just having that in the tank increased the humidity about 20%. Within two days the dent in the eye was back to normal.

Here's a link to my post about it from March:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...28#post2522228