Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I aquired a hog back in May, he has only shed once and had quite a problem with it. A stuck problem might I say. I soaked him and eventually got it off with a bit of work. The problem is his eye caps didn't come off. I am starting to worry that they are stuck on for good. He hasn't shed again either. He eats fine, actually has never turned down a meal and I can see him visably growing. My main question is what should I do about the eye caps? Can I put a little bit of neosporin on them? Will the moisture help? I have never had problems like this with either my corns or balls! It is so frustrating.

Thank you,
Stephanie

Sorry to hear that; frustration, like an unshed eye-cap, distorts vision.

I had a hognose snake retain an eye-cap after a shed as well as acquiring a young Honduran milk snake that had at least 1 layer of retained eye caps on a single eye. In both cases, I heavily increased moisture by leaving the snake for 24-48 hours in a damp enclosure of sphagnum moss. One of the snakes completed its shed without further assistance, just by working its way through the moss. In the other’s case, after about a full day and a half in the moist enclosure, I carefully wiped the eye cap off with a soft wet cotton cloth. I got the results I wanted without the use of OTC medications.

Best of luck,
Adam

Thanks Adam. I will try the Sphagnam. I am hopeful that will work.

Stephanie