Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In all my time with snakes, I have never seen a retained eye cap.
However while handling one of mine tonight, one eye did'nt look right. How do I tell what a retained eye cap looks like?
And if I can identify it as a retained eyecap, how do I remove it?
Any help is appreciated.

Bob

try taking a peice of masking tape and looping it between your fingers...then lightly place the tape against the animals eye cap and wiggle slightly before pulling away..i have had luck with a couple of my burms that had eyecaps that didnt come off. but if it wont come off after a few tries then stop and let it come off with the next shed

I've only seen it three times, with my balls, and once with this new baby burmese I have now, and each time there were small bits of the previous shed from around the eyes left behind. a little mineral oil dabbed on with a q-tip will sometimes loosen it up if the tape wrapped round the finger doesn't work. if these don't remove it just watch for it next time it sheds. It should come off then. Good luck.

If it a R.E.T just use a damp paper towell to keep it moist and gently try and lift it ( the key word is GENTLY). i find that if i cover a "grey"my turn for a shedding snake) snake with a damp towel They shed perfectly. I also increase the volume of water while "grey" they will just sit under the towell and drink alot more. just my thought's though good luck

I would leave it alone. That's the end (alternate) advice everyone else gave anyway. It will come off on it's own. Why chance having the snake jerk and having something happen to it's eye?
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

1.0.0 Burm, Moses
0.0.2 Ball, Chico & Chewy (rescue, many scars)
0.2.0 Cats, Merideth & Hannah
1.0.0 Black Chow, Pivo (RIP Oct 23)
1.0.0 Blue Chow Puppy, Bruno (Born Oct 23)
1.4.0 Rats
0.2.0 Humans (a little obnoxious though)

I was gonna go with that advice...leave it alone.
If it becomes a problem...a friend is a vet, that also keeps herps ( hots, and other asstd critters ).
He told me just call him if I need help. If need be, I'll take him up on his offer.That way I'll learn for next time.
I thought about the mineral oil thing. I did increase humidity to soften it. I;ve no doubt it should come off next shed.
If it's even a retained eye cap...I cant tell.
It just appears one eye protrudes a tiny bit more than it should.
Might just be an optical delusion.
Thanks for the advice all.
Bob

While on the subject of retained eyecaps, can a retained eyecap make a snake blind by damaging the eye. I forget where I heard this but is it true, or have I just embarrased myself by mentioning something sooo absurd.

Thanks in advance
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1.0 Ball Python
1.0 Burmese Python

Don't know but...from some of the things I've seen Moses rub his eyes across while trying to break open his skin (shedding) I'd say it's pretty tough. This is only my thought process (as I have no medical idea) but I don't think it would cause blindness unless it somehow got into the eye.
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

i was told with my ball python that if it doesnt shed off and starts to build up it can cause blindness in that eye.
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1.3 Dogs (max, tasha, kaya, screw)
1.0 Ghost Corn (Ghost Faced Killa)
1.0 Ball python
0.1 Central American Boa Constrictor (Achilla)
0.1 Burmese Python
0.1 Rose Hair Tarantulla
0.0.1 Usambar Starburts Baboon Tarantula
0.1 White Knee / Zebra Tarantula
2 ferrets (Otis, Milo)
1.2 Emperor Scorpion
0.0.1 Melleri Cham (Sir Arthur Chamleon Doyle)
1.0 Nile Moniter
0.0.2 mice that were just to cute to feed to anything
And an ever-changing fishie tank...

It would if several layers were allowed to go unnoticed. We would hope that something were done about it before then though. A half blind Burm might be a little touchy.