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scott.roskilly
Snake mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
 Posted - 04/12/2010 : 21:32:00
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| Hi, ive had my brb for 6months now and she has caps over her eyes and have tried to get them off using a wet cotton bud but doesnt seem to work. She always does a clean full shed but her eyes stey the same can any one help me please. I have been told to use tweezers but am worried i'll damage the eye. Please help thanks |
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hiper2009
Banned
United Kingdom
845 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2010 : 14:07:23
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quote:
Originally posted by scott.roskilly
Hi, ive had my brb for 6months now and she has caps over her eyes and have tried to get them off using a wet cotton bud but doesnt seem to work. She always does a clean full shed but her eyes stey the same can any one help me please. I have been told to use tweezers but am worried i'll damage the eye. Please help thanks
Hello and welcome to the forum , I would not use tweezers , have you tried bathing your brb and then rubbing a soft damp towel over the eyes ? |
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oakleyman18
Hatchling
United Kingdom
269 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2010 : 14:09:24
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| Definitely not tweezers - ouch. Spot on ash! See if Cliff has any ideas too... |
Oscar Morrell
0.1.0. Brazilian Rainbow Boa CB'10 "Jade"
1.0.0. Normal Cornsnake CB'00 "Camo" _RIP_
0.1.0. Normal Stripe, het Hypo, Amel, Lavender Cornsnake CB'11 "Amber"
0.0.1. Spider in the bathroom |
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sullysteve
Hatchling
United Kingdom
107 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2010 : 17:13:52
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Hmmm. I would have thought that as BRB's have high humid levels, that they should come off whilst in the viv. Have you got the levels of humidity correct?
Sul
PS....DUPLICATE THREAD (for MOD reference) |
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scott.roskilly
Snake mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2010 : 18:42:07
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| Thanks all for replying she has high hymidity in her tanks so that shouldn't be a problem. She fully shed saturday morning but they were still there just not as bad. I will try the soft damp towel and see if that work if it doesnt has anyone got any other methods |
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Bob
Snake mite
United Kingdom
34 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2010 : 19:03:09
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| I know somebody who heard...(you know the story) ... that cotton buds dipped in warm water work. I've never tried it mind but it sounds logical if your gentle. |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2010 : 18:56:03
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I've been lucky, I guess: I've never had to deal with what they formally call "retained eye caps."
Before we get to treatment, you said that your Brazilian was having full sheds but the old caps (which should be on the outside) still have not come off entirely? Would you have any pictures, or a history of when you first noticed this condition? Just trying to make sure there’s not another issue here.
Anyway, assuming it is just stuck caps, are a few ways you can deal with the issue. Not that usually I could urge people to wait a few sheds, but you have already done so.
Anyway:
Option #1
Soak the snake for 30 minutes to soften up her eye caps. Make sure she submerges her head at least a few times. After removing her, gently rub a moist cotton swab or paper towel across the eye, making sure to start at the front edge. This is similar to what you tried, but with an added soak beforehand to pre-soften the caps.
If this does not work:
Option #2
Soak as before, and then place a dab of mineral oil on each eye. Release snake in cage. Check in 24 hours.
If this does not work:
Option #3:
Soak as before. Get a piece of scotch tape (in other words, weakly adhesive) and wrap it around two fingers, with the sticky side facing out. *Carefully* touch the tape to the eye, making sure to start at the front. Do not apply force. If the tape does not pull the retained cap off, do not pursue the issue.
Option #4:
If all else fails, take the snake to an experienced herp vet. He or she can try solutions such as tweezers.
In addition to treating the caps, I would suggest double-checking your humidity levels with a different sensor device. Most shed issues trace back to low humidity, and if your sensor has gone bad, you would never know….
Hope this helps, |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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scott.roskilly
Snake mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2010 : 17:44:22
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| Thank you very much for these options i will try them out. She has had the caps on the eyes since i got her from the pet shop and thought they'd come off when she shed but have stayed in the same condition. The humidity is at 90% but am only reading on an analog dial but will be getting digital gages soon. Does any one know a better way of keepin the tank humid instead of spraying daily or putting a bowl of water in the hot end. Thanks again. |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2010 : 22:51:06
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First, limit air exchnage with the outside world. No screen tops, for example!
Second, increase sources of moisture inside the cage. Upgrade the size of the water bowl (should be large and flat rather than high and narrow, in order to increase surface area, which in turn increases envaporation), use a substrate that retains humidity, and use a moist hide as a backup. On the more technological side, several forum residents use an altrasonic mister with great success. The catch is that it's expensive and must be supervised with each use.
Hope this helps! |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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IncurableFlirt
Yearling
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2010 : 18:43:40
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I don't know if you have this available where you are at, but I had great success with using a product called Shed Ease when my Ball Python ended up with stuck eyecaps. You put a bit in with some lukewarm water and soak the snake. Follow the directions on the bottle. After the soak, I then took a very soft (as in used for a baby) washcloth and wet it down with warm water. I then wrapped this around my BP's head (and believe me, he wasn't happy about it!), then very VERY gently massaged my hand over his eyes from nose backward. This helped pull the caps off with amazing ease and he hasn't had any trouble since.
If nothing else is working, though, my immediate suggestion is to take your RB to the vet asap. Make sure it is a Herp vet, as they'll know what to do in order to remove the caps and may even give you some eye medication to alleviate any infection that might have set in over the time the caps have been retained. Hope all goes well and best of luck! |
Jenn.
11.8 Ball pythons
1.0 BCI boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2010 : 20:23:16
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| I have heard good things about Shed Ease as well. Good call Incurable! |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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hiper2009
Banned
United Kingdom
845 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2010 : 18:35:22
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quote:
Originally posted by IncurableFlirt
I don't know if you have this available where you are at, but I had great success with using a product called Shed Ease
If you read whats in the shed ease stuff most of consists of water, so i just use water |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 13/12/2010 : 20:07:52
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| It's the additives that make the difference. I mean, technically, human beings are 60% water. ;-) |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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IncurableFlirt
Yearling
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 13/12/2010 : 23:06:02
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Yeah, agreed. Though it is mostly water, it also has aloe vera and a few other additives that help with problem dry skin and other types of skin issues. Though I have heard lots of good results from using Shed Ease, I have yet to hear any bad ones. And besides...if it is mostly just water...what could it possibly hurt.  |
Jenn.
11.8 Ball pythons
1.0 BCI boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa |
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caps over eyes
