Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Normally, when you see a leucistic texas ratsnake, they have really crisp eyes. That steely blue gray with a black iris. I've always noticed that my snake's eyes, however...look..sloppy? I'm not sure how best to describe it. I atttched some pics. These first three you see the usual eye with a crip pupil.

*these two I did not take, btw. Just using them as an example.

Now, following, here are some pics of Worm. You'll notice the black of the pupil almost bleeds into the iris.

Now, I'm not really concerned about it...he's always looked that way (I've had him almost a year now) and his eyesight doesn't seem to be affected by it or anything. Really, I'm just sorta curious as to what causes that. I've seen it in really bug eyes specimines...but he's not bug eyed. Have you seen this before or have any opinions on it?
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

I know Worm looks AWFUL in those last two pics...it was just before a shed.
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

It looks like the pupil (the opening in the eye) is too large and deformed. This is probably a developmental failure (birth defect). It isn't something you could repair, so I wouldn't worry about it.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

If that were the case then, would you recomend against ever breeding him? Otherwise he's a fantastic animal. Eats great, growing like a weed, and quite docile.
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

I agree with the other post.Nothing to worry about and a birth defect if you can even call it that.Is your rat still tame or just jumpy around the cam?

He's super tame. Only the last few pics were of him. All of my snakes are quite used to the camera...hahahaha. It doesn't even phase them.

But yeah, he's actually crawling around my shoulders as I type this! He's gotten really mellow. Only get tail rattles out of him now right after he eats. Other than that, just calm and curious. While he's definatly my most "alert" snake, he's also the least skittish when held. Not head shy one bit. In his tank though, forget it. He doesn't like being seen...and if you catch him out and about, he quickly "backs up" into a hide. Always backwards. Hahaha.

I'm not really worried about the eye thing. It was more a curiousity. If it is a birth defect or a development thing, then Im guessing it's probably not a genetic thing (should I ever get into breeding in the future). I mean, otherwise, he's a perfect specimine...hardy, a pig, and docile. Rarely explores in his tank (like...NEVER), and his touge is moving a mile a minute when out. Constantly flicking. I would wonder if his eyesight is affected, but he seems WAY to alert of any movement around him or things of that nature.

Whatever. I love the little guy.
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"