Retained eye caps?

[Eru_Iluvatar]

Just to make sure, you can soak your snake in a plastic tub with holes with warm water for about 45 minutes, it helps the lymphatic liquid (the liquid is rich in enzymes that help with the shed) which is in between the old shed and the new shed, if you see that the color of the eye gets a little bit more opaque, then it means that liquid is inside and thus there is a retained eye cap.
If you see no difference, check in the water just in case in the meantime the eyecap hasn't fall off, you'll see it floating.
If there isn't any change, the it's probable that it's just the eye and no stuck skin.

[Pterolykus]

For those concerned about the tape method, I have heard from multiple sources that it helps to wrap your finger in tape and gently rock it back and forth over the snakes eyes to remove the retained caps. Anyway, I was super gentle and really hardly did anything because I was afraid of hurting her so I didn't really do much with that method.
But anyway, her eyes seemed to lack the metalic look after a nice soak so I guess the caps came off in the tub like stated in the comment above.

[KMG]

I just dont see a stuck eye cap being important enough to use such a method.

Im glad it all worked out.

[Pterolykus]

I just dont see a stuck eye cap being important enough to use such a method.

Im glad it all worked out.

If a retained eye cap is not removed, after a while the eye can become infected and the snake may loose it's vision.

[KMG]

If a retained eye cap is not removed, after a while the eye can become infected and the snake may loose it's vision.

How long does that take?

How many have you seen?

Where are your examples?

I realize a stuck cap can eventually cause some issues but I have yet to see one stuck cap do such a thing. You also are not even sure it was a cap.

You can do as you wish with your animal but one stuck cap is not worth the stress to the animal or myself to bring me to use tape as a solution IMO.

In the end the cause was the humidity and that is what I would address.

[KMG]

A few things I found with a quick Google.

"Ball Pythons, as well as all other snakes, have clear scales that cover their eyes. These clear scales provide the same basic function that human eyelids provide. When snakes shed, the clear eye caps are shed as well. Occasionally an eye cap or shed skin is retained. A single shed retained eye cap does not pose a health risk to the snake.

You can try a few things a keeper can do to fix the situation. You can leave the snake alone and let the eye cap come off during the next shed. Increase the humidity in the enclosure."




"If this doesn't work, wait until the next shed."

No harm is done with a set of stuck eye caps. Just make sure your humidity levels are good and let them come off with the next shed.

No need to try to remove them, it's not worth the stress to the animal or worth the risk of hurting his eyes. Just let the problem fix itself with the next shed.

If your humidity levels are good the next shed should be one big peice and you'll be able to verifiy that the caps came off.

[Zincubus]

For those concerned about the tape method, I have heard from multiple sources that it helps to wrap your finger in tape and gently rock it back and forth over the snakes eyes to remove the retained caps. Anyway, I was super gentle and really hardly did anything because I was afraid of hurting her so I didn't really do much with that method.
But anyway, her eyes seemed to lack the metalic look after a nice soak so I guess the caps came off in the tub like stated in the comment above.

So pleased you've managed to sort things out BUT must admit I cringed on hearing the ' tape 'method .
I'd refrain from doing that to be honest . The eyes are so delicate and sensitive after all ..

[Sonny1318]

Has anyone seen the video where they remove stuck caps with a squirt bottle? Just curious, yes I agree with the others, correct the humidity and the problem will resolve itself.

[pbyeerts]

A vet visit is in order for her, as you are obviously very concerned. Also ask you vet, and he/she will be able to tell you how many snakes have been blinded by using tape to remove eye caps.


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[cletus]

Didn't someone post a tape method horror story a couple weeks back?