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Ball Python - Stuck Eyecaps

Posted By:

sdwitzel

In Relation To:

Chief

How do I remove the eye caps from my Ball Python's eyes?


Points:	250
Topics:	General Health , Skin , Eyes
Tags:	Eyecaps, Eyes, Regius, Shedding
Species:	Pythons > Pythons > Python regius
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Member Comment

12/31/2008 11:40:48 AM

kondro86

If you must, do it with a luke warm cotton cloth, gently. If you do get it the first couple trys. I would say soak em'.
-Danny

Member Comment

12/31/2008 11:41:38 AM

kondro86

*If you don't get it the first couple trys.

Member Comment

12/31/2008 11:43:42 AM

Katie M

If you've not done it before, and there's a local herp vet that you'd trust, I'd recommend paying to have them show you the first time. If there's just one layer of retained eyecaps, you can wait and see if they come off in the next shed. If not, soaking first is very important, and than I use a cotton tipped swab, and very gently work around the bottom of the eye to see if I can get any of the eyecap to loosen, and go from there. Good luck!

Member Comment

12/31/2008 12:01:36 PM

Kaiyudsai

I'm with Katie..go to the vet.. you can cause some damage if it's not done properly..... it's not rocket science, but you have to know how hard to pull etc.... If you want to try it yourself, def. soak 1st, I use forceps... but I wouldn't suggest using them on your first one... I've heard tape works pretty good

Assisted Answer

12/31/2008 3:35:16 PM

dalvers63

Like the others have said, best to have someone show you if this is your first time.

If you think it is only one layer, the best thing you can do is to correct your husbandry so that you maintain proper humidity. Doing this, you can almost guarantee that they will come off with the next shed. Even if you get them removed now, unless the humidity issue is corrected before your snake sheds again you will probably have the same problem.

Accepted Answer

12/31/2008 4:18:30 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles

We don't have running water in our reptile room, so usually, I just mist the facial area with a squirt bottle while I'm holding the snake. I then keep holding him for ten minutes or so, like it's just a typical handling session, and then I gently rub my finger over the eye (I've washed my hands prior) going from front to back - just like they shed - once or twice. I hold onto the back of the head with my thumb on top and pointer finger under - kind of like you would do if you were going to try and open their mouth - while doing this. If it doesn't come off in just a couple sweeps of my finger, I mist the head again and repeat the process. To this point, I have never had to use a q-tip, forceps, etc.

Soaking is good, too - I've also done this. Just make sure the head is getting wet ocassionally, and same basic process as I described.

Let us know how it goes...

Member Comment

12/31/2008 8:01:40 PM

Sparkle

My vet told me that you can use eye drops designed for RGP/hard contact lenses for lubrication (Boston solution is one brand). It's safe for their eyes and the extra lubricants can aid in getting the eyecaps to come off.

Member Comment

12/31/2008 9:16:20 PM

TVR

I always use tape and pull it off slowly.

Member Comment

1/1/2009 12:49:07 AM

tradesokan

tape broski...i use it for my Dewey and I never have a problems...

Member Comment

1/1/2009 2:18:45 PM

itsbudluv

I have this problem a lot during the dry months (winter), I soak them and then I take plastic tweazers and gently pull the caps off, make sure you keep the animals head as still as possible, and try and grab from the edge of the eye that will cause less stress.

Member Comment

1/3/2009 9:47:26 PM

b25wolfpack

I use a rubberband tightly rapped around your finger then slowly easy the cap off. The tape also works great.

Member Comment

2/13/2009 9:26:04 AM

Jason79

I use clear packing tape and have never had a problem but make 100% sure the eye cap is still on before trying this.

Member Comment

4/11/2009 9:44:23 AM

Mintsiez

i saw i neat way to do it on snakebytes they use one of those rubbers fingertips things used for sewing and just gently rubes it off it seems to work well

Member Comment

10/25/2009 9:47:59 PM

zachrfields

Warm wet cloth rubbed over may work. If not you can use Scotch Packaging tape, Its very important you only use scotch packageing tape anything stronger can really hurt it.

Member Comment

1/17/2011 3:45:03 PM

abi21491

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