Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

BIGUN · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 6:46 pm Post subject: Help with eye caps

Hi,

Last night i noticed my female blood has retained an eye cap.
She last shed approx 4 weeks ago after which i fed her, removed her from her viv and cleaned.
I am now kicking myself for not checking her over then, as checking her last night whilst feeding i noticed she retained her left eye cap.
I have tried soaking her in water, trying to remove it with a cotton bud but it won't come off.
What do i do now???

Stuart · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 6:51 pm Post subject:

Is there no way you could help it off with tweezers?..only do this if you are very confident as easy to damage the eyes..are you 100% sure its an eyecap..I thought one of my bloods had one stuck once but it wasn't..If its stuck fast I would wait until next shed if its not bothering him or get him to a decent reptile vet to get it removed.

BIGUN · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 6:57 pm Post subject:

Very sure its an eye cap.Not bothering her at all as she fed with it last night.
Not to sure about using tweezers though.Leave till next shed??

Stuart · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:02 pm Post subject:

Can do mate just monitor it..and try soaking every so often may loosen it and eventually come off.Dont leave it any longer than next shed though.Is the snake rubbing its head or eye as if its trying to get it off?

BIGUN · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:11 pm Post subject:

She was last night.

Scott W · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:14 pm Post subject:

if you are 100% sure it's an eye cap, wrap a piece of sellotape around your finger (sticky side out) then just dab the eye cap with the tape and it should stick to it and come off.....but make sure it is an old eye cap!! oh yeah, did I say to check that it is an old eye cap before you do that!

BIGUN · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:19 pm Post subject:

Will do i'll make sure its an old eye cap before i try it!!!

Scott W · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:25 pm Post subject:

Stuart · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:36 pm Post subject:

Irian · I've settled in... Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 29

Try putting her in the bath and give her a soak for a while. Then if you're very careful you could try gently rubbing your finger with a slight amount of pressure across the eye. This should show wether it's a retained eyecap as you'll be able to see the edges of the cap. If it's soaked enough it should come of quite easily too. I've done this a few times with one of my royals with a 100% success rate with no ill effects to the eye. Not sure if anyone else would agree with this method but as i say it's worked for me. I would stress though "only use a very small amount of pressure on the eye".

Stu.