One-Eyed Python.

[nemophilist]

Hello! I have a question concerning my BP.

Here's a little background information:

• BP is just over one year old as she hatched in October 2011.
• I've had her since December 2011.
• BP is at a healthy weight/size.
• BP's temperament is docile. She's very calm.
• BP eats normally, with no issues, and is a very eager eater.

From what I understand she was hatched from an accidental clutch and was born with both eyes. Shortly after she hatched she lost her right eye. I'm not concerned about her only having one eye as she behaves normally and fine without it. What I'm concerned about is the "cap" where her eye used to be.



She's had it since I picked her up last December. The breeder said it may fall off after a few sheds, but a year later it's still there. She sheds normally and 95% of the time it's a full shed, so humidity or anything doesn't seem to be an issue. When I first brought her home she needed a little help with her sheds but for the last 8 months it hasn't been an issue.

Do you think the "cap" will be an issue? I've been worried about messing with it in case it's "open" under there, if that makes sense? I've done a bit of googling but 'one eyed python' or 'one eyed snake' hardly brings any results that aren't related to male genitalia.

[LadyOhh]

Looks like she is blind... That isn't a cap issue, rather a defect in her actual eye.

Edit: I should read more carefully. It should not be a problem. Let it be, and let it come off as time passes.. There may not be a cap the way healthy snakes have it. I would leave it be.

[nemophilist]

Looks like she is blind... That isn't a cap issue, rather a defect in her actual eye.

Edit: I should read more carefully. It should not be a problem. Let it be, and let it come off as time passes.. There may not be a cap the way healthy snakes have it. I would leave it be.

That's what I was thinking When I got her last December I considered posting but as I was told it may come off with time I decided to give it time to see if it would. As it's been just over a year I decided to get other opinions since it's still there.

[carlson]

Can you post some better pics? Looking on a smart phone. She lost that eye and that's what grew over the socket when it happened? I've seen pics of eyeless snakes that have scales an normal skin where their eyes should be is that what the cap is like?

[nemophilist]

Can you post some better pics? Looking on a smart phone. She lost that eye and that's what grew over the socket when it happened? I've seen pics of eyeless snakes that have scales an normal skin where their eyes should be is that what the cap is like?

I can, but not until tomorrow. The 'cap' appears to be just like an eye cap however there is no actual eye underneath. It's completely flat, covering the opening of her eye socket.

Edit: realized I took the pictures with my T4i which means I can crop the originals closer without losing much detail. Here are some closer images.

[carlson]

Thanks wow that's weird looking for sure I'd let it fall off on its own too haha I wonder if it will fall off once the socket is well for lack of a better word clean if that sounds right

[nemophilist]

Thanks wow that's weird looking for sure I'd let it fall off on its own too haha I wonder if it will fall off once the socket is well for lack of a better word clean if that sounds right

No, that makes sense! I've been wary of messing with it at all just in case anything is back there. I wouldn't want to leave her with an open wound if I did anything. I was mostly curious if anyone had dealt with anything similar. I know the breeder mentioned something about a fluctuation of temperature in the incubator so I'm not sure if that would have caused it or if it would be genetic. In her words the eye "swelled up pretty big for a few days, shrunk and completely disappeared." She did have a few more pictures of her eye when it was swollen on her iherp account but they no longer seem to be there.

[carlson]

For sure weird I've heard temps fluxing can mess with the eyes the swelling sounds like it was a trauma maybe? Granted I'm no snake expert lol different that's for sure wish you luck on finding someone who can answer your questions

[kitedemon]

When she sheds, does that come off with the shed?

It looks like the brille or spectacle scale that is still there over an empty socket. Remember there is a scale over the eye it will continue to grow back each shed eye or no eye.

My little one eye girl was a twin so she is actually deformed and has no scale there at all and no real socket.

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She is however the sweetest animal of any sort I have ever encountered.