Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, there has been times were my ball python doesn't shed his eyes, but with his next shed, they usually come off. He has now been through two sheds and one eye still has a retained shed on it. I do not want to attempt to remove it myself, but I heard that I should put mineral oil on it before he sheds again to help it come off. Any other ideas? Is he going to be okay? I have had him for 10 years now, but he never kept a retained eye shed through two sheds before. Thanks!

Had a lot of posts on here about retained eye sheds, so read the history, but there is not much mention of scotch tape. I have had several problem shedders, and usually let them work it out on their own, with plenty of humidity. (Humid NOT WET). As a last resort, you can use the tape. Put a half inch piece into a roll as if you are going to tape a pic to the wall. put it over your finger, hold the snake still, (an extra set of hands may help here) and roll the tape over the eye, front to back. (Nose to tail) it may take several "rolls", but it is better to persist a few times, than to push too hard on the eye (some pressure is needed, but if it looks as if you are pushing the eye into the head, then its too hard. remember, their eyes are much more resillient than ours, so don't be TOO gentle. experiment, and never be more rough than you are comfortable with).If you can find someone with some experience with this method, get them to show you. It is amazingly easy once you know how, and if done quickly, it isn't too stressful for your snake. If no luck, give him a soak, and try again after 24 hours.
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James.....
"Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought the beast back."

You can take some KY Gel and mix it with warm water and rub it on the eye every few days, it may come off on its own. If not, I would apply the KY Gel & water mix weekly until just before the next shed is set to happen and put KY gel on the eye everyday until he sheds and it should come off.

What I would do is first make ABSOLUTELY sure it is a retained eye cap. Then take some masking tape, the blue kind works the best (do not use Duct tape or any similar very sticky type tape). You take the masking tape and roll it sticky side out around your finger and genty tap the retained eye cap with the exposed sticky surface. The eye cap will pull gauranteed. I have done this many times and it always works perfectly. Sometimes when the eyecap is really stuck, it is kind of freaky the way it oulls from the edge of the eye. Dont get freaked out do steady and firm and get the eye cap removed.

The key is the correct tape and making sure, sure, sure, it is infact a retained eyecap.

Good luck and keep us posted. The next time I have this problem I am going to take a demo video and post it.

~Alan

I have done this as well with scotch tape and it works every time. It pulls off just like a contact lens. Just be sure to tap lightly and hold the snake firmly while pulling gently.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

The other method of rubbing the eye daily with mineral oil, or KY GEl, and/or soaking the snake with a heating pad has got to be way more stressful in the end.

The tape method works in under 3 minutes and the snake is back in its enclosure - easy.

The one caveat is you have to be sure it is a retained eye cap. If you see the shed and the eye cap is missing and it is clearly still on the snake, sure. Not just "I think its a retained eyecap cause his eye is hazy, it must be it?", this is not responsible.

Alan

Thanks! I am going to try this tape method this afternoon when I am cleaning his tank out as well. I would have read more of the history on this forum for information, but it was Halloween and family was over. I just wanted to try and find an answer ASAP. I assume he would be okay if I didn't take it off as well, or is it better to get it removed?

He sheds terrible. Only once in 10 years has he had a full shed. The house and enclosure is plenty humid, but he just sheds in pieces all the time. After his shed, the eye cap was still cloudy. You can see some of the skin sticking out from around the eye socket though, which is why I know it is a retained eye shed. What else could cause their eyes to get like this?

I just want to say that you guys are great. I wish I knew about this before. I used scotch tape and as soon as it even touched his eye, it came right off. I didn't even have to apply any pressure at all! Thanks for your help. I am sure my snake says thanks too