How can you tell if a snake's eyecaps have shed properly? Usually I check the shed, but when I looked at Sally's today, I couldn't tell if both were there because she'd managed to crumple up the head part so badly I couldn't open it up all the way. It had dried quite a bit and was all stuck together. I found one eyecap ok, but I'm worried about what if the other one is still on her eye...

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~Juliane~

You'll be able to tell in a few hours, the oils they secrete to help the shed comes off dries up and the eyecap will turn light again, Don't panic! It's quite common for eyecaps to stay on (in captivity) in some species and they will come off with the next shed. DO NOT try to remove them with a metal tweezer, even if someone tells you it's ok. I've got an adopted blind ball python from someone trying that. You can put the snake in a damp rag for a while, that may help to loosen the cap.

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I put mine in a plastic container with luke warm water for an hour but only put enough water to create steam effect. I have holes in the lid and sides of course and using the shed aid spray always helps. Good Luck.

Usually if the eye cap is not shed it will dimple makeing the eye appear as if it had deep pores. I usually take a cotton swap and get them off. Or you can just leave them on for the next shed like Jay DeMore said. Safer just to leave it as to the unexperienced eye you may be trying to get a eye cap off that is not even there. Next shed just make sure you bump the humidity up by 20-30% or more.
-Jason

Jason brought up a good point to a good point, if you know your snake is going to shed, and has had difficulties before, the addition of a moist hide would go a long way in helping with a complete shed. All you have to do is put a little damp moss in a hide for a couple of days.

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

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Thanks for the help. Sally has never had any trouble shedding at all before, so I have no real reason to suspect she did this time. I just usually make sure both eyecaps are present in the shed and didn't like not being able to do that this time. I just wanted to know what I should look out for in case for some reason one of them didn't come off.

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~Juliane~