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I have a sub-adult ball python and her eye caps did not shed last time. I am afraid for her eyesight. What should I do? will she go blind if i force them off? thanks
kirby

Don't try to force them off please. How is the humidity in the cage? You should aim for probably 60% or higher. Try moistening them with a damp wash cloth and maybe carefully wiping in one direction to see if it will come off. You might also try wiping a bit of vasoline on the eyes to loosen the caps. If you can maintain a good humidity they should come off during the next shed. Good luck, I hope this helps.

Quig

Do not force them off - it will not hurt her to leave them on until the next shed. Depending on how head shy she is you can easily remove them by placing a warm wet towel over her head for a few minutes then gently rub them off. You shouldn't have to apply much pressure. Next shed make sure you bump her humidity up to 70-75% and you shouldn't have any problems.
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Tosha

8.13.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

They have been stuck for a while. I have tried shed ease, and soaking to rub them off, but theyre still on there.

Do as the others suggested and place a damp, warm wash cloth over her head for a few minutes. Then ever so gently go over her eyes. Soaking is good if you have an incomplete shed. I put mine in a large tupperwear contained (sweater box) filled about half way with warm water then put them in with the cover on and let them soak for about twenty minutes. Sometimes they won't put their head in the water so if the caps are still on I use the wash cloth.

I got a female BP not too long ago that had the same problem; she had stuck eye caps for two years before I got her.
I put 80% vaseline mixed with 20% mineral oil (less than $5 total at WalMart) on her eyes every day until she shed. The old eye caps came off with her last shed and her eyes now look normal.
Hope this helps,

Rob Reiding.

I have never had a problem ::knock on wood:: with any of my snakes with retained eye caps. I possibly have a snake coming to me next week with them though. I was wondering if someone could possibly post a pic of a snake WITH retained eye caps so I know what to look for in future snakes. I now know how to deal with it in case she does in fact have them (I will not try to manually remove them, I will shoot for her shedding them off next time around). Thanks in advance!

Melody

I wish I had taken a picture of the old stuck eye caps, but I didn't think of it. The eyes looked like a broken car windshield that was hit by a brick.

Rob Reiding.

Its at the bottom of the page.

Retained cap
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Tosha

8.13.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

Thanks Tosha!!

*Melody*