How to help a potentially blind snake?

[kitedemon]

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I too have a mostly blind snake the only additional advise is to make sure the prey item is quite warm and the hemostats (feeding tool) is cool. Mine has terrible aim and will miss if it is not warm enough, I make sure the head is 100ºF and body is 90º or so give or take.

[Tereghan]

I too have a mostly blind snake the only additional advise is to make sure the prey item is quite warm and the hemostats (feeding tool) is cool. Mine has terrible aim and will miss if it is not warm enough, I make sure the head is 100ºF and body is 90º or so give or take.

Thanks for this! (And also thanks for everyone who gave similar heat advice.) I'm lucky enough to have a decent animal manager where I work, I'll try it at home the first week and then get her help if he doesn't eat a couple of times after. I know he may skip the first one or so due to the stress of the move, but I also don't want him starving due to something I'm doing wrong the first few times. Even through treatment though he's always eaten like a champ.

Had him out for just a few minutes this morning to give him a more thorough check over and it seems like he may have had some stuck scales from his last shed. I've got a vet appointment for next week (sadly the first available at a very busy but good exotics guy) so I'll have him verify it's nothing worse then maybe give him a light soaking.

Got some pics, Including the one from my avatar in larger form:

Settling in the first night.


The right eye.


The left eye, which appears to be sunken or missing.


edit: And after reading around here I've replaced that half log with a smaller plastic one, but haven't wanted to bug him with more pictures yet. The flash didn't seem to bother him that first night, but he freezes when I stare at him too long so I don't know if he has some partial sight or just instinct that a possible predator is looking his way.

[Skittles1101]

What a cutie I wish you luck with him.

[xFenrir]

The flash didn't seem to bother him that first night, but he freezes when I stare at him too long so I don't know if he has some partial sight or just instinct that a possible predator is looking his way.

My Spider does the same thing, if she's out and someone walks by or stops to look at her, she freezes. It's cute, because sometimes she stops in the funniest ways. I think it's mostly instinct, even if your little guy can't see he probably "hears" you there and stops in "don't see me and eat me!" mode.

[Twist]

Having never dealt with a snake with eye damage before, take this with a grain of salt but when you said the eyes seemed sunk in a bit I thought about a severe lack of humidity. Have you tried soaking him in warm water in a sealable plastic container with holes in it? When I got my first ball python I was horrible with his husbandry and his eyes sunk in but after researching I figured out why and it never happened again. Just a thought

[Homegrownscales]

It looks like there could be hope for the one eye. But the other looks pretty far gone. Wow I can't beleive a vet did that to him. That's awful. I would maintain optimal humidity. Don't mess with it etc etc. I think everyone else has given amazing advice and has shown that these guys can live great lives even without eyes.


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

[Scaleyz]

Blind is no problem for an animal who sees in heat mainly.

And just to be obliging, here is my beloved Athena, who indeed was born with no eyes.



This is an older photo, she's in blue right now, so I hope to get updated pictures when she sheds. People are fascinated by her.

Gale

I think she is beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

[Tereghan]

Just wanted to report back and say that Crowley (as we've decided to call him/her/it) gobbled down a fuzzy mouse tonight with no problems. Snatched it right out of my tongs! Glad he's continuing to eat well even after the move from the store to here.

[decensored]

Blind is no problem for an animal who sees in heat mainly.

And just to be obliging, here is my beloved Athena, who indeed was born with no eyes.



This is an older photo, she's in blue right now, so I hope to get updated pictures when she sheds. People are fascinated by her.

Gale

I love this picture Gale. I've seen it in another one of your posts. One of the coolest things I have ever seen! I am always amazed!

[Tereghan]

Got some pictures of him eating! Flash off so as not to bug him, of course. I took out his hide and branch just to make sure things were going well, next time I'll leave him alone a little more now that I know he is eating properly in his new environment.


The initial grab: once he snatched to mouse (so quick!) he sat like this for nearly five minutes. I texted my animal manager and she said he likes to make sure it's dead first. Did I mention he's only ever had f/t mice?


Sorry this one's kind of blurry, but he twisted around and started chewing. Didn't straighten his neck out so he could swallow yet of course.


Getting there...


Most of the way down...

Yay!


He stayed in is hide for nearly an hour after, and is just now poking his nose out again. Should have plenty of time to digest before his vet visit on Tuesday.

edit: Forgot to mention the thing behind his tank is the collar we put on the cat this last Christmas. Momo was getting a little too curious, and putting that back there has dissuaded him from going back again. He hates it for some reason...