Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a couperi (my first) with scuff marks on both of his eyes. He recently shed and the scuff marks are still there. He is a 2003 that is very healthy at 51". What causes this and will this go away eventually? I have had and bred erebennus in the past and never had a problem with their eyes. Thanks in advance for any advice you may have.

'I am an expert on everything - but know so little and have SO much to learn!!!'
- Carsten Zoldy -

Zee

dents or scuff marks in the eyes is often a sign of dehydration. Sometimes it will go away, in a couple of sheds, and sometimes it will be forever. By the way, where did you get him?

Thanks - I got him last year from Rick Sladdick, who lives about 70 miles from my house here in North Carolina

Zee

How much was he?

$ 450.00. Pick of the litter also, since I picked it up in person. He was the biggest (24" at 30 days old) and the only one from his clutch that was eating mice right from the start.

Zee

Zee,

Scratched eye capsules come mainly from a lack of hydration, conditions that are too dry. I have seen scratched lenses turn into sunken lenses, which is to say a dimple in the outerlens of the snake. In my expereince this dimpling is irreparable.

I have also seen scratched lenses on VERY old snakes, in particular "Cadillac" my male Eastern Indigo that passed away last year(May he rest in peace, he is sorely missed, believe me)
At 20 years of age(Yes, documented) he had lenses that were scratched despite being kept in optimum conditions for a goodly portion of his life. He is the original "CADILLAC" and was seen at MANY reptile shows here in Southern Calif, and he fathered quite a number of the offspring I sold/donated over the years.

So...in very old snakes it may be a condition of age, or not.

Hope this helped,

Fredrick Albury
Aztec Reptiles

Thanks for your input, Fred. . .
Just wondering,would it be advisable to increase humidity (misting the cage/snake daily) or place an extra water dish in the cage? Once again, thanks for the input.

20 years for Cadillac - WOW that's awesome! I know he's had a good life!!!

Zee

it depends. What is the temp of the tank, on both ends. Sometimes, you get too much humidity with spraying and not enough with an extra water dish...my advice is a spaghum moss hide. mist that daily. you could try an extra water dish as well. also, make sure that the spaghum moss hide is on the warm side. good luck, man! -Will

Thanks, man - will try some of those ideas. Maybe his condition will not worsen then. . .

Zee