Best way to differentiate eye cap from dehydration?

[BigCeC43]

Rocky just shed a few days ago, and today I noticed that one eye has a dent in it. Both eyes appear to be the same except for the dent in one.

He balls up his shed tight and neatly, so I can't tell by looking at that. I think it's dehydration, but it's hard to tell. The humidity drops to the mid 40's now when I'm not around to mist, but he always has plenty of fresh h20 .

[dr del]

Hi,

I always unravel the shed skin and check that both eyecaps are there - it's quite easy to do if it's moist.

I'm not really sure on telling the difference but possibly a retained eyecap would have a slightly silvery appearance and look differently than the other eye where as a simple dent wouldn't change the colour of the eye at all?

Dont know if this helps you any - possibly if you could get a good picture of it ?


dr del

[BigCeC43]

I couldn't get a clear pic of the eye. I did catch him in a position where he looked like he was about to take a drink, but I didn't see whether he did or didn't. As far as the unraveling thing are you successfully do that with something this small and compact...


The eye's color is the same,but I think the dented one is a little larger.

[MelissaFlipski]

A dent can be a sign of dehydration. But given the recent shed, it could just as likely be retained skin.

Offer him a bath and see if he works it out on his own in the next 24 hours. If not, offer another bath and see if there is any improvement in an hour or so. If not, I think it's an eyecap.

We have experienced eyes both ways - once dehydration presented as a dent in the eye. A few hours after a bath, which Mr. Snake loved, it was fine.

We have helped with two bad sheds, during which BOTH eyecaps were retained. But we got them both off.

You know about the "Bad shed? No problem" thread, right?

Good luck.

[dr del]

As far as the unraveling thing are you successfully do that with something this small and compact...
.

Lol,

I've done it with shed's from hatchling cornsnakes - your just not trying.

What makes you say his eye with the problem looks larger?



dr del

[BigCeC43]

Thanks for the advice Melissa,
I have seen that page but I forgot about it.

Dr.Del,
You're right... I wasn't trying b/c I didn't think it'd be possible. I'll def. try next time.

As for the size difference...
When I look at him with an aerial view, one eye seems to protrude a little more than the other.

[BigCeC43]

Alright... crisis solved, I just took him out and his eye is fine now. I didn't find an eye cap so I guess he was dehydrated.