Caring for Blind BP (DU Warning)

Hi all,


I picked up a BP rescue today, and he/she is blind. The store where I sometimes get rats took the snake in and was going to give it to a local reptile rescue. I had been in and seen it a couple of times, and I thought maybe we could give it a better chance. The rescue does great work, but I am not convinced they give the absolute best conditions for each species.

Anyway, the story was that the snake had a bad shed, and they tried removing the eyecaps. When I look at the snake it almost looks like they put something on the eye to help, and it wound up burning the eyes.
:sigh2:

The store had been unable to get the snake to eat for a couple weeks, so does anyone have suggestions for caring for a blind BP? How should I approach trying to get it to eat? Also does anyone else on here have a blind BP?

Pics .... :(
http://www.sunsetpythons.com/images/eye1.jpg

http://www.sunsetpythons.com/images/eye2.jpg

http://www.sunsetpythons.com/images/eye3.jpg

Neil

Oh my gosh! How awfull. Not sure what you could. Maybe someone more experienced could help you. :(

Oh my goodness! The poor baby!!! :mad: :(


Being as how I'm not the least bit experienced in rescues, the best I could offer is to give her a lengthy and very quiet acclimation period. Of course, I'm sure your husbandry would be spot-on. ;) And then, if it were me, I would try offering a large fuzzy rat...or equally harmless aged critter. Get a good feel for her feeding response before offering anything more potentially aggressive. Or of course, go right for f/t...but I'm thinking live prey might tempt the appetite better.

I'm sure there'll be better advice along the way as well. Good luck with her...and huge kudos to you for being willing to take in something that others would consider flawed or "broken." :hug:

ah poor thing. good lesson for anyone who wants to remove eyecaps - it's so important to do it safely.

i have no suggestions of feeding... but i bet someone can help. i would start off letting it get used to it's surroundings and definitely never moving stuff around in it's enclosure... so it is allowed to create a 'known' place of safety.

sad - very sad.

omg...i feel sooo bad for it...thats so sad :(...u HAVE TO force feed it in this case obviously..

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

...u HAVE TO force feed it in this case obviously..

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No you don't. Sight is the last sense a snake relies on to hunt. Using its senses of smell and heat, and even taste....it'll be just fine.

That is so upsetting but interests me at the same time. I feel for the poor kid but how in the you know what did they do that? I can not imaging the pain this little guy/girl went through to get to you today. You understand me? I can't imagine the things people dream up and do to their animals. It disgusts me, but also makes me feel/want to be just that much better of a keeper. I wish you luck and he/she will be in my prayers from now on.

Congrats on the new addition.:oops:

-Danny :(

OH MY GOSH! That poor baby! How in the world could someone let that happen? What did they do try to get the eye caps off with acid?! *SHOCKED* I hope it will take a small prey item!

Also Ryan, force feeding a snake is the very last thing you ever want to do, unless it really really needs it! Snakes rely on their sense of smell and heat to hunt, not their eye sight since it really isn't all that good to begin with.

geez that's just horrible. who told these people acid was OK to use ?

good luck with your little one. I wish i could help

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

omg...i feel sooo bad for it...thats so sad :(...u HAVE TO force feed it in this case obviously..

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Ryan why in the world would you give that advice? Is it based on your personal experience dealing with the day to day husbandry of a blind ball python?

Poor snake and I'm sorry a human being did that out of ignorance and it's had to suffer for that. Recently I did watch a program about snakes on PBS. In this case it was another species but one that utilizes the same labial heat pits BP's do. In this case when the snake was temporarily rendered unable to see there was no appreciable difference in it's hunting skill level or ability to find and efficiently deal with prey. When it's heat pits were temporarily rendered useless, the same snake missed on 80% of it's attempts to strike prey.

You may have to adjust some feeding methods until you find what works best for this snake. I think it's great you've offered it a permanent home. Good for you!

My 21 year old gal is blind, or at least mostly blind. She's a sweetheart and doesn't seem to have any problems eating. When I got her she was eating F/T every week because I think she was underfed on live mice, but the past couple of months she has only eaten live. I'm not sure if it's her age or the fact that her sight doesn't get in the way, but she is by far my most accurate and graceful snake when she hits her meal.

I'm sure the snake will come around as long as she settles in and has a comfortable environment. Is there anyway to find out what she has been eating? You might want to try a live scented rat pup to start her on. It's pretty safe and you can leave it in overnight.

Good luck!

Thanks all, and I would only forcefeed as an absolute last result.


I have no idea what the person actually did, they told the store that they just tried to remove the eyecaps. I have a feeling that there was more to the story than that. I could not believe when I saw the snake, and the owner kept hinting that he would rather see someone that really cares take the snake instead of taking a chance at the rescue.

He/She (will worry about sexing later ...) is actually in pretty good shape otherwise. The snake is definitely not too skinny, but I am not even sure how long ago the "incident" happened.

We will wait until next week and try the suggestion of a crawler rat. The snakes tongue goes like crazy, and its not too shy. Hopefully after settling in it will eat.

Oh, what does everyone think of the name "Ray". That could really work for a male or female right?

Neil

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Originally Posted by aaajohnson

Oh, what does everyone think of the name "Ray". That could really work for a male or female right?

Neil

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I think Ray is perfect =)...you are his/her "Ray of light" in what could have become a pretty dismal life if placed in incapable hands...=)

Oh, this is cool: The boy's name Raymond is pronounced RAY-mund. It is of Old German origin, and its meaning is "protecting hands."

I think Ray is a beautiful name! And I'm really looking forward to all the updates on this beauty so we can watch yet another happy-rescue story!


One more thing that comes to mind...if you have any truly experienced snake-vets in your area, it might be worth the expense to have a vet take a look at his eyes. Maybe they can tell at least what KIND of damage has been done, if not exactly how it occurred...and let you know if there is any risk of future complications like infection or something to watch for.

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Originally Posted by cassandra

I think Ray is perfect =)...you are his/her "Ray of light" in what could have become a pretty dismal life if placed in incapable hands...=)

Oh, this is cool: The boy's name Raymond is pronounced RAY-mund. It is of Old German origin, and its meaning is "protecting hands."

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Pretty sure it's a refrence to the blind piano player "Ray Charles" :P

nvmd...i didnt realize that their smell was that much more relied on then their eyesight

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

nvmd...i didnt realize that their smell was that much more relied on then their eyesight

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It's not their smell - it's more of their heat pits that they rely on more. One reason why it's recommended that you thoroughly wash your hands after handling prey, because if you don't, you smell like rodent AND you are giving off a heat signature that they target onto, increasing your chances of being bitten.

Neil, I think it's wonderful that you rescued this animal, and Ray is a wonderful name for him!

Thanks again all, I will keep updates coming as to his progress.

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Originally Posted by JLC

One more thing that comes to mind...if you have any truly experienced snake-vets in your area, it might be worth the expense to have a vet take a look at his eyes. Maybe they can tell at least what KIND of damage has been done, if not exactly how it occurred...and let you know if there is any risk of future complications like infection or something to watch for.

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I was thinking the same thing Judy, the one side is more swollen than the other. It is definitely worth a trip to make sure there is nothing else going on. I just can't believe the damage.

I was encouraged last night when I checked Ray before bed. He was under a hide, with his head sticking out waiting. I felt better that he did not just "dissapear", at least he is acting like all of our other snakes. He does not really seem shy at all.

I think am just going to call Ray a he until I find out otherwise.:)

Neil

Keep us up to date on him, Neil...do let us know what the vet says. Poor guy. =P

OT: Lawrence, I'd love to see a picture of your "old gal". =)

Welldone Neil and BIG KUDOS to you for taking he/she in :D :cool:
I really dont understand that people could even think about doing what has happened to this poor bp :( people can be so ignorant and careless but atleast he/she has found a good well caring home now :)
I was at a herp expo a few years ago where they had this young Green anaconda with only one eye the previous owners of her used duck tape to remove the eye cap :eek::sigh2::cens0r::cens0r: which inturn cost her her whole eye :(

Grrrrr... give me five minutes alone with the person who let that happen.. along with a cast iron fryingpan and preferably in a dark alley...
I am thinking along the lines of Jo's post; seems to me that I saw that show too, and it'd hold true. Like everyone mostly said, I would give the poor girl some time to just relax, acclimate and have some peace; I would imagine that at the store, gawkers were staring at her all day, the poor thing. I think it is SUPER awesome that you're giving her a chance, and I can't even imagine the good karma you deserve for this.. good luck and I hope you keep us posted.

oh man the poor thing! im so happy that you have taken her in and i agree with everyone about letting her get settled, i also agree that she should see a vet, im not sure but it could be causing pain and it may be comfier for the snake and you if you can get the eyes removed, the idiot who did this to the poor bp should go to jail! and i think ray is a great name!

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Originally Posted by cassandra

OT: Lawrence, I'd love to see a picture of your "old gal". =)

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Here she is, Cass. She weighs about 2700 grams up from 1700 when I got her last November. I take her out a lot, and she loves to do the Cobra periscope trick when she's roaming around. :P

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../2/snakey1.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../2/snakey2.jpg

shes beautiful, deus! did something happen to her eyes or is it just old age? also, is it old age that makes her face all flecky?

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Originally Posted by Shnak_An'_Star

shes beautiful, deus! did something happen to her eyes or is it just old age? also, is it old age that makes her face all flecky?

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Thanks! I'm actually her third owner. The first owner didn't remove a bunch of stuck eye caps, so that's how they got damaged. She's shedding them fine now. I'm not sure if the fleckiness on her face has to do with age or not. :confused: She does have a couple scars on her face and her neck. The neck scar is probably from a rodent bite, but the head scar might be from cage rubbing?

hmmm, well shes beautiful all the same. my ball has plenty of scars too, hes got his tail chewed off, since hes w/c im guessing something in africa did it. i wish i new what though.

ok, those pictures made me sick and very sad :(

WTF???? How AWFUL! It never ceases to amaze how STUPID and careless ppl can be due to either willful neglect or just ignorance. Pooooor baby!


What a loving thing you've done taking it in!!! Besides, Ray is a great name...you can always add and "e" on the end if it probes out female. Hee hee hee :-P


Despite the injuries, I hope you have many happy years w/your new pet. :gj:


RuLyn

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Originally Posted by xdeus

Here she is, Cass. She weighs about 2700 grams up from 1700 when I got her last November. I take her out a lot, and she loves to do the Cobra periscope trick when she's roaming around. :P

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../2/snakey1.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../2/snakey2.jpg

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She looks great Lawrence, wow what a chunk!!!!!

Neil

Thanks for posting those pictures, Lawrence. She looks great and sounds like the blindness doesn't bother her. =)