Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Eddie

Hello,

Our 2.5 year old Royal has recently developed metallic looking eyes and has gone off his food - any ideas?

He can be a bit of a fussy feeder, only eating prey when he strikes, he is fed once a week on a small rat and until now he has never not eaten for longer than about two weeks. He hasn't taken food for about 5 weeks now, I have tried various rats and mice and tried to encourage him by heating them with a hair dryer - but he is just not interested.

Other than his eyes looking dark metallic grey (don't thing they are retained eye caps) he is in good health, active and drinking. He doesn't appear to have lost weight, but I have just bought a new scales so I will monitor it from now on.

We would be grateful on your thoughts about the eyes and his feeding.

Thanks

molurus · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:27 am Post subject:

when was his last shed ?
are you sure it's a male ?
if so, if the photo-period has changed or even the night time temp's in the room have changed he may just be doing his male thing of starting to fast and look for a girl friend.

Lynne · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:35 am Post subject:

the metallic eyes!!!! do you have a pic? could be a shed.
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bumblebee · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject:

if it's a male of 2.5 years it is not so uncommon to stop eating for a period of time. if he has been eating well before i wouldn't worry to much, they can go without food fot months. i think that a trip to the vet will stress him out even more and just prolongs the not eating. maybe he's just getting ready fot his fresch shedding Wink

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1.1 Hypo Salmon Boa (Gee Line)
0.1 Boa C.I. Orange
1.0 Boa Coral Albino (Kahl)
0.5 Royal Python
0.1 Royal Python Spider
1.0 Royal Python Jungle Pastel (Graziani)
1.0 Royal Python Mojave
0.2 Royal Python Labyrinth

Eddie · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:39 pm Post subject:

These are the best photos I could get, both eyes are very similar although I could only get a photo of one. I have never had experience of retained eye caps. What do you think?

The knife is for scale.

Eddie · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:45 pm Post subject:

I couldn't get this photo on the other thread!

Lynne · Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:10 am Post subject:

looks like it could be retained eyecaps. next shed up the humidity more and see if they come off then. or if you feel they are really bad and you dont want to poke around yourself, i wouldnt with the eyes, have a trip to vet. but normally they will come off next shed.
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Eddie · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the advice. Not sure if it is male or female. I will keep a check on his weight and see if the eye caps come of during the next shed.