Why to Check Sheds

[guidofatherof5]

Here we have the shed of one of my male T.s.concinnuses. As you can see one of the eye caps was missing.
Once I found this shed I was able to pop the retained eye cap off with little difficulty
It's important to inspect all shed for any retained items.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/missing_eye_cap.jpg

[mikem]

Good advice :)

[d_virginiana]

How would you go about removing a retained eyecap? Moist Q-tip? Never had to do that with mine..

[guidofatherof5]

I use a 100% cotton towel and warm water. Usually there is a piece of shed skin attached somewhere on the eye cap so I lightly brush that area.
The cap usually pops off with little difficulty.
If it looks like it's not coming off I leave it. In most cases it comes off with the next shed or the snake gets it off. I'm not very aggressive as I don't want to injure the eye.

[mark cope]

You can also try giving the snake a bath, Martha likes a bath weather she is shedding or not:)

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I saw someone using sticky tape to remove a retained eye cap eye cap but i'm not sure its safe with smaller species like Thamnophis.

[Invisible Snake]

Never use any kind of sticky tape with garters!

[ProXimuS]

So, I've known they shed their "eye caps," but was just thinking, does that mean they have skin over-top of their eyes? Is that their version of "eyelids?"

[guidofatherof5]

I saw someone using sticky tape to remove a retained eye cap eye cap but i'm not sure its safe with smaller species like Thamnophis.

I understand the concept behind the tape but second the no tape sentiment.;)

[Invisible Snake]

So, I've known they shed their "eye caps," but was just thinking, does that mean they have skin over-top of their eyes? Is that their version of "eyelids?"

I'm not sure if this answers your question but I found this on a snake fact website..

"They do not have movable eyelids, but transparent caps called “brille” as protective eye coverings. Their eye movement is fairly limited."

[guidofatherof5]

I'm not sure if this answers your question but I found this on a snake fact website..

"They do not have movable eyelids, but transparent caps called “brille” as protective eye coverings. Their eye movement is fairly limited."

Brille - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brille)

[ProXimuS]

That does answer my question;) Danke sehr!

[thamneil]

I understand the concept behind the tape but second the no tape sentiment.;)

I know Im bad but I have used tape to remove eye caps. Never had to remove a Thamnophis cap though. I prefer if they can be rubbed off, but if not, a little masking tape always does the trick. Not sticky enough to damage the snake at all.

[guidofatherof5]

This is the consequence of not check a shed. This female Northwestern (T.ordinoides) will now lose the tip of her tail because I didn't catch the retained shed.
It looks like it was the tip and maybe a scale or two more. I will check her over the next week or so but more then likely it will break off.
Not a serious situation but one that should have never occurred.
Shame on me.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//743/medium/tail_tip.jpg

[-MARWOLAETH-]

This is the consequence of not check a shed. This female Northwestern (T.ordinoides) will now lose the tip of her tail because I didn't catch the retained shed.
It looks like it was the tip and maybe a scale or two more. I will check her over the next week or so but more then likely it will break off.
Not a serious situation but one that should have never occurred.
Shame on me.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//743/medium/tail_tip.jpgDon't worry Steve,i'm sure she'll forgive you after a bucket or two of worms:D