retained eyecaps, shed

[mhsrunner]

my friends ball python has a retained eyecap and retained she just behind its head for several inches down. soaking repeatedly is getting the skin off slowly, but what can we do about the eyecap? thanks

[mpgt]

Years ago, I had the same problem with my burmese. I called the San Diego zoo. Someone from their reptile dept called me back. He said they put them in a large rubbermaid trash can filled with foam rubber chunks, like the material in couch cushions, and 2/3 filled with water. Leaving the snake in there with the top on for 24 hrs gets all the skin and eye coverings off. I wasn't sure I could find clean furniture foam, so I just took him to the vet. He used hemostats or something, and pulled it right off.

[ROCKY]

I had this happen to one of my snakes about 6months ago, I tried lightly dab'n him with a damp cloth but that didn't work so I asked the breeder who I got him from and he said don't fus over it, told me it would come of in the next shed..It did.

[jjmetro]

Don't use tape on the eyecaps!!!! If you can get the shed to start at the lips/ mouth, you can GENTLY pull the shed from the head twards the tail and the eyecaps will come off. BE GENTLE!!! if the shed breaks let it be untill the next shed. your boa may be a little pissy untill they come off, just let them be. up your humidity when the next shed comes around, ie- mist daily with a spray bottle.

[NocturnalCreations]

You can get a cream from your vet that you put on twice a day that keeps the caps most and the come off within a week or two. I forgot the name but I had to use it a couple of months ago. I will try and find it.

Tim Rash