I noticed after her last shed, her eye was milky looking so i looked at it closer and noticed it was the eyecap that had not shed.
Will this come off on its own or will have to intervene and help her with its removal?
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Sinaloan's eyecap not shed
ryang
May 19, 2003 08:05 AM
Replies (5)
chrish
May 19, 2003 09:22 AM
Will this come off on its own or will have to intervene and help her with its removal?
You need to try and remove this. While the snake may sometimes shed the "extra" cap the next time, there are records of these building up and eventually causing eye damage, so it is better to get it off.
The first thing you need to do is make sure the snake really retained the spectacle. You should be able to see some of the loose skin right around the spectacle. If you can't, I suggest getting the snake to a competent reptile vet to remove it.
There are a couple of techniques. I generally hold the snake very securely (an extra pair of hands is useful here!) and with a blunt pair of tweezers, try to get hold of any free edge of the spectacle. Often just a very gentle pull will free it. Don't pull hard. If it doesn't come right away, don't try and force it.
I have heard of people using tape wrapped around a finger to stick to the spectacle and pull it off, but I have never had any success with that.
However you do it, be careful. You can really damage a snake's eye by trying to remove a spectacle that has already been shed.
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Chris Harrison
wayne13114
May 19, 2003 09:26 AM
yes you will have to inter the snake the best way to do so is to place it in a small container with a moist substate I use paper towels wet them so they are good a wet, then place the snake in the container for about 30 mins the take it out and very gentally try and rub the skin next to the eye, may have to use tweezers, It sounds hard but isn't as long as you are as gentle as can be keep us posted
Waynethe
ryang
May 19, 2003 04:59 PM
I got it removed, i had masking tape that i stuck all over my palm and fingers and let her wiggle her way through and eventualy the eyecap met up with a peice of tape and popped right of, i figured id let her do it instead of me forcing her face onto some masking tape, now shes happy and im not worrying anymore.
Gotta love dealing with snakes eh? 
P.S. thanks for your replies and suggestions!
Joel R
May 19, 2003 08:14 PM
JR
markg
May 20, 2003 10:58 AM
Glad you got the eyecap off. I don't know if you gave your snake a humidity box just prior to it shedding - if you didn't then you should. A plastic sweater box with wet paper towels over the heat pad will do nicely (or use sphagnum moss). Sinaloan territory in Mexico can be humid - they appreciate some humidity around shed time. This is the better alternative than pulling off dry skin with tape. Good luck.
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Mark 
