Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My female Chain King has some sort a scab on her eye and it didnt shed off when she shed (3 days after I found her) and she is going through another shed cycle now but I think that is cause she may be gravid. but can you look at the pics and tell what is wrong and how it can be fixed if it can? it swelled up and the center came off, when it did it looked black and then it moved like her normal eye so could she have been bit and it is healing? or just gunck stuck to her eye?

Thanks Brandon

Looks like an eye infection or could even be mouth rot that found its way to the eye. It needs a Vet ASAP.
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that looks like an infection to me. that snake needs some antibiotics pronto before it looses the eye.

Brandon,

I think your snake may have a retained (un-shed) eye cap (I think its called a speculum). What happens is that sometimes the speculum doesn't come off with the skin. Do you still have the last shed skin? If you do, check to see if the scale that covered that eye is missing from the shed. If it is missing from the shed skin then it is most likely the cause of the symptoms you describe.

This condition usually resolves itself naturally at the next shed. However, it can cause an impacted speculum if it continues to fail to shed. Obviously, this is not a good thing - the eye will sort of die and go blind.

A long time ago I got a red sided garter who had had this happen - it was like there was a black mass in the socket. It didn't seem to bother him much, but it looked gross.

I had a large chain king that occasionally failed to shed a speculum. The first time I took him to the vet. He used a blunt tweezer to remove the speculum. After I had seen it done, it was easy to do it myself. However, before going that route, try soaking or placing the snake in a damp environment, then try rubbing the speculum with a damp towel. Sometimes the snake can get it off with out help if conditions are damp enough.

I agree with the previous posts - a herp vet is a very good idea.

Anyway, That's what I think - Just remember, free advice is worth every cent you payed for it.

Good Luck,
John D
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I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"

Can you take a picture of her on the ground so we can see her rear portion? It should be pretty obvious if she's gravid. Other things can drive lots of shedding too, like a snake that has a need to improve it's overall skin condition. I found an eastern king that looked like total butt from being in the mud for a long period of time. Scales were all frizzed out, sores and lesions and stuff. The snake looked fugly. 2 QUICK sheds later, it's looked like it was back to about 95% normal. I know you live near me, the only herp vet I know in our area is down on Jefferson Ave in Newport News. Good luck!
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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

That looks like the eye cap my gopher snakes use to occasionally get - usually a shed or two would resolve it.

If not - take it to a vet.

Try puting him in a damp pillow case for 2-3 hours.

Good Luck,
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html
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R.BICHLER