View Full Version : Eyes
xPython Loverx
02-04-09, 06:00 PM
My 4 year old Ball Python's eyes look like they are scaly. Does this mean that he is going blind?
Aaron_S
02-05-09, 02:53 AM
Totally would need pictures for that. Maybe it's left over shed skin that's now drying out so yah it could make your snake blind if that's it.
It most likely means that he has retained eye caps from bad sheds. Your husbandry is to blame.
Phoenix446
02-05-09, 07:03 PM
Maybe bad husbandry is to blame, but there are solutions to the problem. The eyecaps will probably come off in the next shed if proper humidity and temps are maintained. If it's just the eyecaps then there will most likely not be any long term negative effects. Also, when in doubt, call around and find a Vet that deals well with snakes.
Aaron_S
02-06-09, 10:08 PM
Maybe bad husbandry is to blame
No maybe about it. Only way to have retained eye caps (IF it is retained eye caps)
Also, when in doubt, call around and find a Vet that deals well with snakes.
No that's not a good thing to do when in doubt. When in doubt listen to an experienced person. Most vets have little to none.
Depending on how many bad sheds the snake has endured will determine how many stuck eye caps are there. Best thing to do is get your humidity up to 100% during the next shed cycle and hope for the best. At the very least you won't add to the existing problem.
Phoenix446
02-07-09, 12:10 PM
The point I'm trying to make is that crucifying someone for a mistake isn't constructive, and there are vets out there that have experience with herps. Not all of us are experts but what use is a forum to try to learn better practices if something we say or ask may incite egotistical commentary?
If I have a problem that I post on a forum, I am looking for a solution, not someone to say"yep, ya screwed up, nice job."
Chu'Wuti
02-07-09, 03:23 PM
there are vets out there that have experience with herps
Where? Not near me, not anyone certified in herp veterinary medicine. There's one vet locally who says she'll treat them, but she told me herself that she's not certified and doesn't know how to deal with more than basic problems & sexing. In some areas of North America, herp-certified vets are nonexistent or at least few & far between.
If there are stuck eyecaps, follow Mykee's advice--it's the best around.
Aaron_S
02-07-09, 06:14 PM
If I have a problem that I post on a forum, I am looking for a solution, not someone to say"yep, ya screwed up, nice job."
We give solutions we just tack on a little "extra". These problems shouldn't occur if you're doing things correctly.
Phoenix446
02-07-09, 08:39 PM
When I lived in NY I had no problem finding herp certified vets. Here in NM there are so many breeders that Im assuming the demand necessitated the presecence of herp vets.
Aaron_S
02-07-09, 09:10 PM
To be honest, most breeders that I know of don't use vets. I've never taken one of my snakes to a vet ever. Of course I've never really experienced a problem. I remember my burmese showed signs of an early RI and I "home remedied" it quickly and all was better.
i took my bp to really the only vet in the area and he really screwed up and told me everything was fine when it wasn't. i will never go back to a vet again. for my snakes that is
dexter 1988
02-08-09, 01:30 PM
when my bp had stuck on eye caps i soaked her for 30 min used 2 sided tap and the caps came right off u might want to ask some peopol on the forum if this is a good thing to do because when i did this i was very new to the snake world and readed it in books . it work for me.
TERRIBLE ADVICE ALERT!!!!!!!
NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
USE ANY!!!!!!!!!!
ANY!!!!!!!!
ANY!!!!!!!!!!!
KIND OF TAPE TO REMOVE ANY RETAINED SHED (ESPECIALLY EYE CAPS) FROM A SNAKE.
Good God almighty!...........
Aaron_S
02-08-09, 01:49 PM
What do you use Mykee? Just humidity?
*no sarcasm in above questions*
Yeah, and I would also recommend a damp towel in the enclosure IF necessary. Putting any adhesive over the eye of any animal, le4t alone a ball python is stupid for so many reasons, hopefully I don't have to go in to detail.
citysnakes
02-08-09, 06:13 PM
tape on retained eye caps??? wow man... what cool people on what forums are you talking to?
Dex man its that type of advice why i would rather recommend vets than forums.
Phoenix446
02-08-09, 08:01 PM
tape on retained eye caps??? wow man... what cool people on what forums are you talking to?
Dex man its that type of advice why i would rather recommend vets than forums.
Don't get these guys going on vets...
tape on retained eye caps
I heard of that before when i had my bp and everything shed except for the head. I seriously thought about doing it until i asked my breeder and he about hit me for even thinking it was a good idea. that idea is floating around in some care sheets out there.
angie_85
02-09-09, 02:24 PM
I was also told the same thing, not sure who from though...possibly the local pet store? Never really thought it was a good idea though I must admit. I have also heard of letting them soak for about half an hour and using a cloth to try and get them off. The thought of sticking a piece of tape to a snake's eye is not very appealing, also if the snake was about to shed the eyes would look the same right? From what I have read on here, soaking in water is the cure for many issues a snake may have, not resorting to tape or something harmful.
Chu'Wuti
02-09-09, 03:10 PM
Just *reading* about putting adhesive tape on a snake's eyes makes me SHUDDER!
Aaron_S
02-09-09, 03:49 PM
So who's going to e-mail the Snake Keeper and tell them their wrong?
A number of years ago this was a practice I've used once or twice. The only trick to it is not to apply the "fresh" piece of scotch tape to the snake's eye. I took a piece and ran it over my arm until it lost most of it's adhesive and then took off the eye cap. It's just got enough to it to remove the eye cap and leave the eye unharmed. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, and I haven't done it since I learned better.
Wolfus_305
02-09-09, 04:55 PM
Nice response Aaron. I like that you explained how it works and that you don't do that any more because there are better, safer ways to remove eye caps.
Kenny
Aaron_S
02-09-09, 07:49 PM
Yah I thought I was in the hands of someone knowledgable. I was wrong. I learned from my mistakes.
Wolfus_305
02-09-09, 08:08 PM
Everybody learns from their mistakes. Whether or not they decide to fix what they're doing wrong in order to make everything a lot better is their own decision. Most people have trouble admitting they're doing something wrong and they live in denial.
Kenny
Especially on forums LOL
But lets face it, we were all "noobs" at some point. You gotta start somewhere.
dexter 1988
02-10-09, 03:27 PM
i only done it once when i was very new to snakes readed it on a site and tryed it. it work for me but now i will never do it agin.
Chu'Wuti
02-10-09, 03:28 PM
Yah I thought I was in the hands of someone knowledgable. I was wrong. I learned from my mistakes.
I think that has happened to all of us at some point or another. I'm learning that the variety of opinions about "how to" do anything with snakes is almost as great as the variety of people keeping snakes. That means that people who are less experienced have to spend a lot of time trying to weed out the bad information to find the golden nuggets of good info, and as the differences can seem pretty subtle at times, the process can be quite a challenge!
Aaron_S
02-10-09, 03:37 PM
I'm glad you brought that up Chu'Wuti.
With the age of the internet anyone can post something on it as fact. Sad part is someone comes along and doesn't know any better and may only use that one source as their belief and then a mistake could happen. This isn't limited to just keeping reptiles. So as you said, everyone needs to weed out the bad stuff.
anyone can post something on it as fact
if your snake dies you can grind it up and smoke it and your snake will come back as a ghost and talk to you.........it's true
Phoenix446
02-10-09, 06:26 PM
if your snake dies you can grind it up and smoke it and your snake will come back as a ghost and talk to you.........it's true
Didn't work when I tried it...
Wolfus_305
02-10-09, 06:27 PM
Me neither...
Chu'Wuti
02-10-09, 10:49 PM
Originally Posted by Kmef07 View Post
if your snake dies you can grind it up and smoke it and your snake will come back as a ghost and talk to you.........it's true
I'm going to weed that out as bad info. ;)
haha no puhn intended right chu?
Chu'Wuti
02-13-09, 06:51 PM
haha no puhn intended right chu?
Oh, sorry, guess I should have said that! ;)
You never know . . .
Could be an interesting combination with a nice Scotch.
Spider-Tart
05-01-09, 10:43 AM
I love that movie :))
BP_okay
05-01-09, 11:03 AM
I am total newbie and may be offering bad info, but I have read that lots of snakes receive their hydration via their meals. Maybe a ? to ask would be "is your ball eating regularly?" I know that my snake only seems to have bad sheds when he goes on a hunger strike, although keep in mind he's a sand boa and doesn't require the humidity that your snake needs. Just a thought...
Will0W783
05-01-09, 12:04 PM
I have taken my snakes to a great, certified exotics and herp vet in Philadelphia. He has helped me several times, so I completely trust him. Reptiles magazine usually has a list of herp vets in every state. It sounds like retained eye caps though. My bp had that and he actually ended up with several caked on before I noticed. I had him on antibiotic and moisturizing lotion for his eyes for a month until he shed again. I thought for sure he was going to be blind in that eye, but when he finally shed again it all came off. I was living in an apartment where no matter what I did I couldnt keep the humidity up in his cage and he refused to soak in his bowl so I put him in the tub every other day. I've since moved and have a climate/humidity controlled room for the snakes. But vets can be very helpful, and so can advice from fellow herpers. It is a matter of how severe your problem is and your personal preference. Herp vets are expensive though, so use them sparingly.
Spider-Tart
05-02-09, 12:54 PM
I've read in a lot of care sheets about using tape on the eyes, it scares me to think how many people follow that advice... =/
it seems to me like most snake owners find it a pride thing to take their snakes to a vet, like it's a bad thing. i guess i'll never understand it. but the vet that i've taken my snake to has snakes himself, he only treats snakes. so i think that's pretty good. i don't know if he's certified.
Pheonix446, you said there's a lot of herp vets here?? I have only been able to find the one I use and that was only because my sister works at the clinic.. where are they at lol
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