one eyed boa

puta · 07-07-03, 03:04 PM

I have the oppurtunity to buy an albino boa.The only problem is that everytime it sheds,the eye cap has to be drained.The guy who owns it is thinking about getting the eye removed.Will the loss of an eye do anything to the boa regarding feeding or breeding...let me know.Also do u know why his cap fills with liquid everytime he sheds and is there a cure???

Linds · 07-07-03, 05:32 PM

One-eyed snakes can do fine in captivity, same as people with one eye manage to adjust, so do reptiles. Snakes produce fluid under their skin to assist in the removal of their skin, I have no clue why its leaking into his eyecap. Is he shedding his eyecaps and the fluid is still beneath? Has he taken this snake to have a thorough examination by a *qualified* herp vet? Regardless, it shouldn't interfere with breeding activity, but I strongly suggest -not- breeding him. Only healthy animals should be used for breeding, you don't want to reproduce anything but the strongest specimens. This animal obviously has some sort of health problem. If the snake lost its eye due to injury, then it would be fine to breed, but if it loses it due to health reasons, then I would strongly discourage it... he's better left to be a pet

This is my little one-eyed, kink-tailed wonder. She was one of last years hatchlings, she came out with an underdeveloped eye (she has no vision in it), and a kinked tail. She is totally healthy and happy. She's very spunky and always wants to go up and out

However she can't hunt her prey, due to the blindness she has no depth perception, but she still eats great

She's a pet, she will never be used in any future breeding programs.

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/511/22eyecrawl2-med.jpg">

Jeff_Favelle · 07-07-03, 08:36 PM

Sounds risky. Not to mention, one-eyed specimens of albino boas have been appearing more than once. I'd spend the extra money to get an animal that is in full health.

Think of it this way, you save a couple hundred bucks now by buying "Winky", only to pay 1000% more over a span of 20+ years (lifespan) in vet visits, medication, and your time to drain your damn snake's eye! Hmmm.....sounds like a no-brainer to me.

Bryce Masuk · 07-07-03, 09:05 PM

Something is up with albino boa's Eyes Id say some dont even have eyes.....

BigDan · 07-08-03, 02:28 AM

I would not buy it and especially do not breed it.

A freind of mine from the U.S. bought a one eyed albino from a very well known breeder a number of years ago. This was back when albinos were selling for $5000 U.S.

He received this albino for around half the price and was told it was not genetic. He then proceeded to breed the albino to a het female and guess what?? The majority of the albinos and some of the hets in the litter were one eyed. It seem to act like a co dominant gene or something and basically he ended up with almost a worthless litter after spending a pretty good chunk of change and also investing the time of raising the animals. A very expensive lesson to learn!!

I have viewed the animal you speak of at a show and it did not look very good then. It's eye was pretty messed up and it also did not look to be in very good health either. It basically has half an eye and due to the deformity it has difficulty shedding its eyecap. Its other eye looks malformed as well. The eye problem could also be affecting his ability to feed or he may just be a sickly individual because it did look thin as well.

Just my 2 cents.

Dan

Tim_Cranwill · 07-08-03, 02:44 AM

I was talking with my wife today about the very same thing and she mentioned that in humans, if there are three visible birth defects, there are usually a lot more that go unseen. Whatever caused the lack of development of one part at a given time may have caused comparable "damage" to other parts developing at the same time.

So, if the part of the snake's genetic make up that makes viable eyes is missing, what else might be missing? What other vital organs/body parts will be compromised?

Just a thought....

Jeff_Favelle · 07-08-03, 03:08 AM

I'd trust what Dan is saying if its about boas man.....

puta · 07-08-03, 03:17 PM

Thanx for the advise guys...you just saved me alot of money,maybe I can buy you all a beer as a thank u

!

reptile boi · 07-13-03, 08:35 PM

Linfd,
How did you find out that your leo was blind? Also, how do u feed it?

Thanks,
Ben

reptile boi · 07-13-03, 08:36 PM

oops spelled ur name wrong Linds, sorry bout that lol

Linds · 07-13-03, 08:55 PM

She has very little response to any motion, etc in her underdevoped eye. She feeds fine, sometimes she overshoots but overtime she has learned to deal with the lack of depth perception... she walks up and pushes her nose into it a bit to gain a feel of where it is and just bites on, just as long as the prey isn't running fast she can get it fine. She also enjoys being handfed. She's trouble-free and probably the spunkiest little girl you will ever meet. She manages just fine, and makes a great pet

However the albino described certainly does not sound like it would anywhere near free of trouble, it sounds like there are a lot of issues, hidden as well

Also, in the bottom of your screen is an edit feature in case you need to go back into a post and correct anything (such as spelling or missed info), instead of having to correct your posts in reply form