Why is my ball pythons eye dented?

There are two major culprits that cause dented eyes: dehydration and the shedding process. Ball pythons can become dehydrated when they don’t have sufficient levels of humidity in their tank, so make sure to keep your humidity between 55 and 70%, or even a bit higher when you’re anticipating a shed.

Why is my snake holding his head up?

What is Stargazing Syndrome? Stargazing syndrome in snakes is characterized by a snake turning the head and neck and staring upward. It is known as stargazing, as the snake looks as if he is staring at the sky and stars. This syndrome is the result of an underlying disorder, which can be determined by a veterinarian.

What is an eye cap on a snake?

Snakes do not have eyelids. Instead the eyelids are fused to form a clear scale that covers the cornea (Sivak 1977). This clear scale is commonly called the spectacle. The spectacle is also known as the brille, ocular scale, or “eye cap”.

How do you know if a snake is stuck in your eye cap?

To check for the latter, inspect your snake’s eyes to see if they are clear or cloudy. Clear eyes usually mean the eye caps have shed, whereas a cloudy or fogginess in one or both eyes can indicate retained eye caps.

How do you tell if my snake has stuck Eye caps?

Symptoms/signs A snake with a retained spectacle (eyecap) will have an opaque grainy look to the affected eye. This becomes more obvious as additional layers of spectacles accumulate. There may be dried skin visible in the groove between the eye and surrounding scales.

Is it bad to have retained eye caps on snakes?

While there’s some speculation on the proper treatment of retained eye caps (or if you should treat them at all), the condition can cause eyesight, duct, and infection problems down the road, should it continue through multiple sheds. It’s always best to examine the skin your snake sheds. (Plus, it’s pretty cool to see.)

Why do snakes have scales over their eyes?

Getty Images. Snakes don’t exactly have eyelids. Instead, they have specially-adapted scales over their eyes called eye caps (or spectacles) that help with protection. During a normal shedding cycle, the eye caps usually come off.

What are the eye caps on a shedding snake called?

Instead, they have specially-adapted scales over their eyes called eye caps (or spectacles) that help with protection. During a normal shedding cycle, the eye caps usually come off.

How do you remove a snake’s eye cap?

If you feel comfortable performing this process, take a piece of clear tape and gently but firmly press it onto the snake’s cap. Slowly and carefully peel it off of your pet. When done correctly, the eye cap should stick to the tape when you peel it off.

How to get rid of a ball python’s eye cap?

Also, you can use a wet cotton bud to try to remove stuck skin on the eye. Always try to look for the edge of the stuck skin, which is often around the eye. Use your clean finger or a q-tip to gently rub the eye. You can also use reptile eye drops/rinse like this to moisturize eyes and help the skin come off.

What are the signs of a ball python shedding?

1 Flaking and dry skin, which has not shed in one piece 2 Clogged nostrils 3 Film/spectacle on eye (s) or opaque eye (s) (retained eye caps) 4 Skin that is peeled, but not coming off 5 Crusty and dull appearance 6 Retained shed on tip of tail, eyes, around head (make sure to remove old skin, to avoid restricted blood flow to these parts)

Why does my snake have one eye cap?

Mites or bacterial infections could affect one or both eyes. This often needs immediate attention to restore the health of your pet and maintain proper shedding. Your snake could have suffered a trauma or injury to the affected eye or eyes, causing it to retain one or both of its eye caps.

Why does my ball python not want to eat?

Cloudy eyes will cause extra defensiveness from your ball python. That’s also one of the reasons ball pythons won’t eat at this time – shedding skin prevents them from feeling and seeing prey properly.

Why do snakes get eye caps?

They are also known as ocular scales, brilles, or spectacles. As snakes don’t have eyelids, these eye caps protect the cornea from dirt and physical harm. A snake’s spectacles also prevent the eyes from drying out. Shedding doesn’t always go to plan, often due to a lack of humidity.

How do I know if my snake has eye caps?

Do snakes eat when shedding?

Decreased Appetite Along with decreased activity, snakes eat less when they begin to shed. Some snakes might eat in the very early phases of shedding, but most stop eating until their eyes become clear again. Still others won’t eat until their shed is complete.

How do ball pythons get rid of retained eye caps?

Some snake owners try to remove the eye caps themselves. If you feel comfortable performing this process, take a piece of clear tape and gently but firmly press it onto the snake’s cap. Slowly and carefully peel it off of your pet. When done correctly, the eye cap should stick to the tape when you peel it off.