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Ball python eye caps still on.

Posted By:

Don and Allens Balls

My Ball pyhtons (Shelby) eye caps are still one, she just shed yesterday, I soaked her and put her in a damp pillow case. Is it time to take her to the vet? She is eatting like a pig, just has those damn things on. I want to kick the people that had her before me right in their dumb teeth. She was not well taken care of..


Points:	100
Topics:	Skin , Eyes
Tags:	Eyecaps, Eyes, Humidity, Python, Regius, Shedding, Soaking
Species:	Pythons > Pythons > Python regius
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Member Comment

9/14/2010 12:45:51 PM

Synath

I have that problem with my bp. She shed out last night and the shed had the eyecaps intact.. but she still looks like she is retaining one. I've used water with a qtip to gently wipe over the eyes to get the caps off.. I've heard you can use a little vegitable oil to do that too but I've never tried it.

Member Comment

9/14/2010 12:53:08 PM

PitbullFan

How long did you leave her in the pillow case? I usually leave mine in there for an hour or two, and it always has helped them remove any retained eye caps. I would try the pillow case one or two more times before going to the vet, but that's just me. Keep us posted.

Author Comment

9/14/2010 1:07:54 PM

Don and Allens Balls

OK, I will put her back in the pillow case for a while.

Member Comment

9/14/2010 2:06:29 PM

shellboa

Use mineral oil not vegetable oil- do not wipe with the q-tip just dab-and soaking in a lukewarm bath for 30 minutes is better than the pillow case- also you could add a hide with either a damp rag or some damp moss for her to be in in her habitat.

Member Comment

9/14/2010 2:13:24 PM

Katie M

Do NOT put her in a damp pillowcase. Just ask Aaron - it's a very quick and easy way to suffocate your animal. If the material gets wet, it basically stops allowing oxygen to pass through the pillowcase material. Instead, put a washcloth in the bottom of a tub, fill it with about an inch of water, and put a lid on the tub. They'll be able to get a good humid bath that way, and can rub themselves against hte washcloth. If they don't come off with that, I would just wait for the next shed.

Member Comment

9/14/2010 2:44:25 PM

crazysnakelady

+1 Katie

Member Comment

9/14/2010 2:53:47 PM

Synath

Tyty Shel for the correction.. I just rememeber it was an oil.

Member Comment

9/14/2010 3:05:08 PM

lostmale28

I agree with katie here. Use a tub instead of a pillowcase.

Member Comment

9/14/2010 9:49:35 PM

PitbullFan

Maybe my cheap, low-thread count pillow cases are what allows the air to flow through, I dunno. Will keep this in mind though next time i have shedding issues.

Author Comment

9/14/2010 9:56:24 PM

Don and Allens Balls

HaHa...well I have walmart pillow cases so I should be carefull....no? hahaha

Author Comment

9/14/2010 11:36:44 PM

Don and Allens Balls

Damn...still nothing. Stuck like glue they are. I feel so bad for my poor girl. On the good news side of things all this handling of her has really settled her down......haha hasnt bit me for a few days :) I think its vet time........

Member Comment

9/15/2010 2:42:32 PM

Brandon Osborne

Try using a piece of scotch tape. It usually pulls them right off.

Author Comment

9/16/2010 11:36:18 AM

Don and Allens Balls

The vet is booked till the freakin 29th.....

Member Comment

9/16/2010 3:23:49 PM

Brandon Osborne

No need for a vet visit for stuck eye caps. Try using a piece of scotch tape or masking tape. If that doesn't do it, the next shed will.

Accepted Answer

9/17/2010 2:11:32 AM

shellboa

The only reason I would seek veterinary attention is if there is something wrong besides just stuck eye caps. Like a discharge or swelling or some thing that just does not seem right. I mean it your money and your choice and if that's what you want to do go for it by all means. But a good soak, a dab of mineral oil and patience is probably going to work just as well. And no offence Brandon but using tape is a BAD idea. If there were some sort of underlying trauma or issue with the eye and you go pulling things off with tape, you can compound a simple issue into someting much worse. Do not use tweezers, finger nails, tape or any thing more abrasive than a q-tip to gently dab, not scrub at the eye caps. Just because they have a scaly covering doesn't mean they can't be hurt. Would you stick tape to your eye!

Assisted Answer

9/21/2010 5:12:29 PM

Izzy

+ 1 to Katie...

if your animal is eating well, don't worry about an eyecap, it will come off in the next shed just fine. Also, if you mentioned that the previous owners didn't take very good care of her, it might just be that she's dehydrated... I took in a pair of fosters that as 2.5 year old BP's the smaller one weighed 117g I think and the larger one weighed a scale tipping 157g. they were both so dehydrated and had stuck sheds when I got them, that their eyecaps didn't look normal until the 2nd shed after I got them. about 7 weeks later.

Keep your chin up, and be patient... I know it's hard :-)

Member Comment

9/23/2010 6:02:28 AM

Brandon Osborne

As I mentioned before, scotch tape or masking tape work great and is a method I've used for nearly 20 years. There is not enough glue to stick to the snake's skin or cause damage. Your vet is more than likely going to use tweezers to pull the eye caps off. IMHO, a trip to the vet for this is a waste of time and money. Most vets no little about reptiles. The eye caps will shed off during the next shed cycle.

As far as the abrasion issue, snakes scales are designed for things like abrasions. Eye caps protect the eyes and are nothing like eye lids. If there was an underlying issue with the eyes you would notice it.

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