Really bad eyecap or previous injury? Need help, pics included.

[devildog_dk]

As the title says I can't tell if this is just a really really bad eyecap or an injury from before I got her.

She came to me from a local guy that does reptile rescue, and I saw this when I went to get her but assumed it was just an eyecap. So far she's shed once for me and of course it didn't come off so now after a week of soaking, running through a rag, and q-tipping i've made no progress. I've also been keeping mineral oil on to try and loosen it up but still a no go. The scotch tape trick only worked to get some of the brownish scales stuck to it off.

I'm starting to think its an injury as all the other eyecap pics I've been able to find don't have the blueish discoloration like she has, they just look like dead skin over their eyes.





I'd like to get input from people that have seen the type of injury I'm talking about first hand as I haven't.

[Homegrownscales]

Stop screwing with his eye will be the simplest advice I can give you. The scotch tape "trick" is dangerous and NEVER should be done. His eye is most likely damaged from doing things exactly like that. Don't worry or even look at it until the next shed. Then look at the shed to see if it's complete with eye caps. If it is you'll know that its not an eye cap. Please leave that poor snakes eye alone. Seriously. Btw I am not trying to be harsh. It's just the truth.


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[Adam Chandler]

Stop screwing with his eye will be the simplest advice I can give you. The scotch tape "trick" is dangerous and NEVER should be done. His eye is most likely damaged from doing things exactly like that. Don't worry or even look at it until the next shed. Then look at the shed to see if it's complete with eye caps. If it is you'll know that its not an eye cap. Please leave that poor snakes eye alone. Seriously. Btw I am not trying to be harsh. It's just the truth.

Just what I was about to say, leave his eyes be.

Just make sure his enclosure has proper humidity and see how it looks after his next shed. Everything should come off in one piece, eye caps and all.

[devildog_dk]

So do is look like a really bad eyecap or does it look like an injury to the lining over her eye?

And as far as the tape goes, just tried it as I found here http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...=stuck+eyecapsone time, but even then I wasn't comfortable putting any pressue on it and risking pulling the lining so I've decided against the idea.

[Homegrownscales]

It could go either way. I'd wait till the next shed to see what happens. Eye issues don't occur over night and it could just be bc of the oil and other things. If it is an injury to the eye cap it will either heal over time or the eye will begin to die. But It won't happen overnight and there's not much you can do about it now.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

[Tereghan]

That looks pretty similar to my blind snake's remaining eye. My vet removed some of the dead skin with some very tiny forceps and gave me an ophthalmic lotion to put on it, but he mentioned he'd tried to remove stuck eye caps when he was around 11 and hurt some of his own pets very badly.

Either way though, mine has been doing great and eating normally so besides looking funny it's probably not doing your snake any harm.

[aalomon]

Looks like he might be going blind. My rescue burm lost sight in his right eye a few years ago. The vet thought it was probably due to a nutrient deficiency (when I originally got him he was half starved). Besides the eye hes perfectly healthy. This is the best pic I have. His left eye always has that milky look to it now.

[ballpythonluvr]

I rescued a female normal with th exact same problem as your snake. Everyone is correct when they say just leave it alone. I also would not soak that snake anymore. Just wait until the next shed and see what happens.

[devildog_dk]

Thanks for the advice all, sorry but was having internet issues and couldn't get back to this thread til now.

I haven't messed with her since, and if this doesn't clear up with her next shed or at least look like she's making progress I think a vet visit will be in order.