Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 3 year old male couperi and I just noticed his eyes are sunken in (SEE PIC) I have been supplementing him with electrolytes to make sure he is hydrated properly. He has been in the same enclosure with the same controls for two and a half years. Temps 80 DTH, 74 NTL. Humidity around 60-65%, bumped up during sheds. He never refused a meal yet. Has never had mites. No other signs of illness. Anybody experience anything like this with their Drymarchon?

Robert

1. Are both eyes effected equally?
2. Are the eyes actually sunk in or does it appear that the conjunctiva is inflamed? (kinda hard to tell from the pic)
3. What type of substrate do you use?
4. Do you feed live prey?

I had a blue tongue skink once that had conjunctivitis from being kept on some aspen I bought that was unusually dusty and irritated his eyes. He fully recovered after being treated w/ antibiotic opthalmic ointment and having his substrate changed.

Is it possible that he has retained eye caps?
Chris

Answers....

1. Are both eyes effected equally?

Yes.

2. Are the eyes actually sunk in or does it appear that the conjunctiva is inflamed? (kinda hard to tell from the pic)

To me it looks like the eyes are sunken in. All his sheds have been complete with eyecaps shed.

3. What type of substrate do you use?

I use Dri Dek, which may not be to clear in the picture. But it is basically a vinyl mat. No dust involved.

4. Do you feed live prey?

No, thawed frozen rats.

Recently completed a fecal with negative results.

Thanks for your help.

Robert

First, I think you need to determine if the eyes are really sunken or if the tissues surrounding the eyes is swollen, giving the appearance of sunken eyes.

If the eyes are really sunken, it's a condition called Enopthalmia. In snakes it is caused by one of two things. Either dehydration or ocular scarring (phthisis). Since it is bilateral, you would rule out ocular scarring from mechanical means, but would consider pathenogenic scarring (possibly pseudomonas, proteus, serratia, or other pathogen). If it is caused by dehydration, then you need to find the cause of that. Dehydration can be caused by husbandry (probably not the case here), pathogens such as intestinal parasites, stomatitis, etc., administration of nephrotoxic drugs such as Aminoglycosides, overuse of certain other antibiotics and antimicrobials, anthelminths, etc., such as Metronidazole (especially in Indigo Snakes and Tri-color Lampropeltis) and Thiabendazole. Normally you would think that dehydration severe enough to cause Enopthalmia would be evident by loose skin, disecdysis, etc. and would be accompanied by anorexia, especially if the cause were pathogenic.

I think, if I were you, I'd get the snake to a veterinarian that is experienced with treating snakes and find out for sure what is causing it. While the sunken eyes, in and of itself, isn't a big issue, the underlying cause could be.

Thanks for your input. Yes, I am going to take him to the vet to find out what the cause is.

Robert