Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I got a new young female a couple weeks ago, and she came in with stuck eyecaps. A few days later she went into shed, so I thought I'd wait and see if she would shed them off herself when given proper humidity. Well, she shed last week and they didn't come off.

I've tried wet-bagging her a couple times, massaging, and the scotch tape method. Those suckers are stubborn! I've tried everything I know except tweezers. I'd like to avoid using tweezers if possible.

Does anyone know of any other methods I can try to get these caps off? They must have been on there a while since they are so tough.

Thanks!
-----
Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

What about warm bath? Just wondering if actually soaking warm would penetrate where ambient humidity didn't. Sorry to hear about the problems.

Sean.
-----
1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

Tried any kind of shea butter or other sort of salve yet? When my colubrids get end of tail shed problems, I can usually get the stubborn ones to soften up with a bit of lip balm. Whatever's handy. Maybe something like neosporin for your new kid, shouldnt hurt the eye if it gets to it, but several treatments may soften those caps up.
-----
Julie

Surrounded by a bunch of BRB, some Ridleyi, a few Grey Banded Kings, Australian Cattle Dogs, a Belgian Malinois, assorted Mustelids and an incredibly tolerant male human.

All I can say is keep up the humidity, a damp moss hide box IMO is a MUST right now!!!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Rub a small amount (massage) around all the joints, let it sit like a mask for 10 minutes, wipe with damp warm cloth, then try working them off manually (gently) with your finger nail. You may need to use forceps unfortunately.

I am assuming you inspected shed and it lacked both eye caps, meaning there are multiple eye caps on the eyes ?

The oils in the peanut butter will lubricate and remove just about anything to be honest including that pesky glue on stuff you buy for your snakes such as hide boxes.

Plus the peanut butter won't hurt them, just stay clear of jelly!! That won't help!!!

And if it don't work...have a sandwich since you got the stuff out already and ponder your next move!!

>>So I got a new young female a couple weeks ago, and she came in with stuck eyecaps. A few days later she went into shed, so I thought I'd wait and see if she would shed them off herself when given proper humidity. Well, she shed last week and they didn't come off.
>>
>>I've tried wet-bagging her a couple times, massaging, and the scotch tape method. Those suckers are stubborn! I've tried everything I know except tweezers. I'd like to avoid using tweezers if possible.
>>
>>Does anyone know of any other methods I can try to get these caps off? They must have been on there a while since they are so tough.
>>
>>Thanks!
>>-----
>>Aubrey Ross
>>
>>©
>>www.SlipstreamSerpents.com
-----
=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

Great post! It gives good advice and even has humor!
-----
Mike

7.13 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King

>>Great post! It gives good advice and even has humor!
>>-----
>>Mike
>>
>>7.13 BRB
>>1.2 Spotted Python
>>1.0 Cal. King
-----
=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

Aubry,
100% humidity and a substrate it can burrow around in and they should come off on their own. What I've done successfully in the past with stuck eye sheds is soak a tissue with warm water and wad it up kind of loosely and gently massage it off working from the front of the eye backward. Apply enough pressure to slightly compress the eye (gently is the key here). Do this after its been in the high humidity/substrate-burrowing environment for a week or so. They should come off.
Good luck,
Paul

I did the same thing except before rubbing very gently with a damp paper towel, I just held their head still and put a droplet of water on the eye and just held him there like that for a few minutes before working at it. It's worked ever time for me! All the best of luck!

Like most have said - lots of humidity for a period of time. You have only had it a couple off weeks - so give it some more time in high humidity.

My spotted pythons sometimes do not shed the tip of their tail, but since it is the tail I run the tail under 85 to 90 degree water for two to three minutes and peel it off.

I would not try this for eye caps - as you will end up with one upset snake.
-----
Mike

7.13 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King

Thanks for all the advice. I'll give your ideas a try and let you know how it goes.
-----
Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com