Is my king injured?

[trailblazer295]

My cali king Yzma was out and about so I stopped to check her out. She stared at me intently through the glass at the front of her cage. It was during this staring contest I noticed a pattern in the reflection of her eye. It looks like a stone chip on a windshield. Is this normal for kingsnakes? I never noticed this on my other snakes and rarely can look at her head this closely for an extended period of time to notice. I wonder if she suffered an eye injury before. Her eye is the normal dark colour but the reflection of light has the spiderweb of a chip in the center. It is her left eye, I couldn't get a clear look at her right one to see if it was the same.

[Albert Clark]

Most likely that is a retained eye cap from previous incomplete shedding. Try to increase the humidity in the enclosure now and definitely when she is about to shed next time.

[trailblazer295]

She shed recently and had a humid hide but didn't use it. She stays in her hot hide around shed time. It doesn't have a crusty look it's only when the light catches just right you see the pattern. She had retained caps before and had the crusty glazed look. This looks very different.

[Albert Clark]

Can you post a picture of it? Like a closeup?

[trailblazer295]

I'll try but it will be difficult. It took a bit staring with my own eyes inches away because she stared at me. I'll get my good camera and see what I can do.

[Albert Clark]

OK. Don't worry then. It could be dented spectacles from the same cause, inadequate humidity. That condition will usually right itself once humidity is increased. Just my opinion.

[trailblazer295]

OK. Don't worry then. It could be dented spectacles from the same cause, inadequate humidity. That condition will usually right itself once humidity is increased. Just my opinion.
If you see my previous threads on her her previous owner didn't have a clue what she was doing. She had retained caps when I got her a few months ago. She has been shedding often since then, went from pups bi weekly to weans weekly so she is in high gear. I took her out to try and get some pics it's the same in both eyes. I'll see if any pictures are decent enough. She seems to be past the nervous stage in my hands, she wouldn't stay still.

[trailblazer295]

So my normally hand shy kingsnake was very active and moving around. Not aggressive just didn't want to stay still which normally would be great when I am holding her but when one hand is using a camera not so much. Can see in a few shots the depression in her eyes. Both eyes are the same. I also happened to snap a few cool in cage shots.

[travesty]

My kingsnakes have never had that happen. But my ball python has had that dented look in the eyes a couple times. I would give her a soak and make sure her eyes get wet too. If that doesn't work it'll probably fix itself next shed. For my snakes that won't use humid hides I just give them a soak in a closed tub when their eyes go clear again right after being blue. If I time it just right they shed in the tub, one piece, perfectly every time.

[trailblazer295]

She has used it in the past just not this time. I'll put it back in.

[Albert Clark]

I can appreciate the condition in the left eye but the right eye photos are a bit blurry. Imo, it looks like a dented spectacle. What is your average humidity percentage? How do you monitor it? Just try increasing it from now on especially during shed cycles. It should resolve over time. Try to add a little bit of 100% cypress mulch to your aspen shavings also.

[trailblazer295]

Average is 40% humidity sensor in the cage. Weather station in the room and home thermostat with humidity sensor. My house humidifier is set to 40%. Each eye is physically the same in appearance with my own eyes. Both have the same dent. She wouldn't stay still to get any better shots.

[Albert Clark]

Cool! Just increase it a bit overall and see if and when it resolves. Maybe a 5% increase overall and 10% during shed cycles?

[EL Ziggy]

I hope the increase in humidity and the moist hide fix the issue for you Blaze. That's a gorgeous striped king.

[trailblazer295]

Increased the house humidity to 45% and her cage seems to be stable at 50% now. I've had windows open few days ago due to being mild and the humidity was in the mid 30s in the house. It's since cooled off a bit so furnace is on.

[Albert Clark]

Increased the house humidity to 45% and her cage seems to be stable at 50% now. I've had windows open few days ago due to being mild and the humidity was in the mid 30s in the house. It's since cooled off a bit so furnace is on.

Sounds good! Let's roll with that for now and see what happens after the next shed.