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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?"