Why Are My Hognose Snake's Eyes Cloudy?
You glance at your hognose snake and its eyes look milky, blue or cloudy. The snake might also look duller and act grumpier than usual.
Most of the time, it's about to shed. Here's how to tell, and what to check afterward.
The "blue phase" before a shed
Snakes don't have eyelids. Instead, each eye is covered by a clear scale called a spectacle or eye cap. It sheds along with the rest of the skin.
Before a shed, fluid builds up between the old and new skin, making:
- Eyes cloudy blue or milky
- Body color dull
- The snake more defensive (it can't see well) and more likely to hide
- Many snakes refuse food
This phase usually lasts several days. The eyes then clear up again, and the snake sheds within a few days after that.
What to do:
- Handle less during this time
- Skip feeding until after the shed (many keepers do)
- Make sure there's a humid hide available
After the shed: check the eye caps
A good shed comes off in one piece and includes both eye caps. Look at the shed skin: you should see two clear, lens-like spots where the eyes were.
Retained eye caps
If the eyes still look cloudy, wrinkled or dull after the shed, the old eye caps may be stuck.
Don't try to pick them off yourself; you can damage the eye.
Try: increasing humidity (humid hide), and a short, lukewarm soak. If they're still stuck after the next shed cycle, or you're unsure, see a reptile vet.
When cloudy eyes aren't about shedding
See a reptile vet if:
- Only one eye is cloudy
- There's swelling, bulging, or discharge
- The eye looks injured, scratched or discolored
- Cloudiness doesn't clear and there's no shed
- The snake is lethargic, losing weight, or has other signs of illness
Preventing shed problems
- Humid hide with damp moss or paper towel
- Proper temperature gradient
- Rough surfaces (rocks, branches) to help with shedding
- Fresh water available
FAQ
Why are my hognose snake's eyes blue?
Usually because it's about to shed. The eyes clear up a few days before the shed.
Should I feed my hognose when its eyes are cloudy?
Many keepers wait until after the shed, as snakes often refuse food during this phase.
What is a retained eye cap?
When the clear scale over the eye doesn't come off during a shed.
When should I worry about cloudy eyes in a snake?
If only one eye is affected, there's swelling or discharge, or cloudiness doesn't clear with a shed.