Could my Ball Python be Blind?

[elevatethis]

Is it eating for you yet?

I once rescued a ball python that had multiple retained eyecaps, to the point that there's no way that she had any significant vision other than knowing whether she was in a bright room or a dark room.

I fed her in the dark and she ate just fine. For feeding, they primarily use scent and cues from their heat pits (on their upper lip) which is basically an area with very sensitive skin that they can feel body heat from prey animals near them. A fews months in proper humidity also caused the retained caps to come off. My point is that even if it is blind - its not the end of the world and they can live perfectly healthy lives without vision.

 

[micstarz]

No, it isn't eating yet. I only got it recently, so I'm still waiting for it to settle down a little.

Thanks for the tips! It's good to know that it's not the end of the world, haha!

 

[krazy4country]

hope its all good.......

 

[micstarz]

Thank You

 

[RDTigger]

Maybe I am wrong..

but aren't snakes supposed to have terrible vision? They detect and sense using their tongue.. not visually. They detect heat..?

 

[coura]

Yeah...I've been thinking about a vet trip. It won't be a big inconvenience for me apart from money wise, which can be solved.

I'll give him a warm bath. Thanks

What is assist-feeding?

Dont think about assist feeding for now, remenbar lack of apetite is a simpton, not a desiase

 

[elevatethis]

Maybe I am wrong..

but aren't snakes supposed to have terrible vision? They detect and sense using their tongue.. not visually. They detect heat..?

Technically they don't "smell" but more like "taste" the air with their tounge. Tounge flicks out in the air, goes back into the mouth, and "taste/smell" buds tell their brain what is in the air. If they smell/taste something in the air that seems like prey, and feel the heat from the subject get closer, a feeding response generally follows.

My experience in switching an entire collection that was raised on live food over to frozen/thawed has taught me that in order to illicit a feeding response, at least in ball pythons, you need smell, movement, and heat.

I wouldn't guess their vision to be sharp - but I believe that this varies by species. While pythons are somewhat primitive and can see larger shapes and shadows, other species like the King Cobra are known to have a very sharp visual sense.

 

[navykorman]

is he shedding?