Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All-
I posted yesterday about my juvenile ball having cloudy eyes a week after shedding. I am still utterly confused by this as I don't think they can be retained eyecaps, because after he shed they were clear. Perhaps they just looked that way. If someone could expand on that, I'd be so grateful.

Also, is it harmful to try to remove the eye caps with the recommended methods if they aren't retained eye caps but in fact a new shed? Will he bite me if I touch his eyes?

Lastly, (so sorry for the long post?) I know I shouldn't feed him when he's about to shed......can I feed him with retained eye caps?

Thank you x a million!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He could be in a rapid shed cycle. He may have something irritating his skin, or a wound, or an infection these all lead to rapid shed. Does the rest of his body seem cloudy at all, or have that darkened preshed look? If you aren't 100% sure he has retained eye caps I wouldn't mess around with his eyes. Maybe try soaking him for about half an hour a day for a couple of days in luke warm water. Might help. That is what I would try.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

Thank you so much for that!! That's the best advice I've gotten so far. I had no idea that there was such a thing as a rapid shed cycle, but that could also be because he's very full....he eats with gusto and I'm concerned that he's gaining weight. I'll try that, and if that doesn't work, I'll take him to the vet, but yes, he does have that look. What else causes a rapid shed cycle? Also, should I still feed him this week? thanks again!!!

Snakes go through rapid shed (I've seen one that was sick go through 3 complete sheds in 2 weeks) when their is something wrong with their skin. The sick snake I refer to had blister disease. Yours probably doesn't have that. Maybe during his last shed he injured a scale somehow. The reasons for a rapid second shed are many. I would let him pop off this shed and then feed him a big meal right afterwards. I find right after shed is the best time to feed, but maybe that is because i don't tend to feed at all during the week of shedding.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com