Ball pythons, as well as all other snakes, have clear scales that cover their eyes. These clear scales provide the same basic function that human eyelids provide. When snakes shed the clear eyecaps are shed as well. Occasionally an eyecap or shed skin is retained. Retained eyecaps do not pose a heath risk to the snake.

There are a few things a keeper can do to fix the situation. The first option is to leave the snake alone and let the eyecap come off during the next shed. The second option is to add a humidity chamber to the snake’s enclosure. Humidity chambers work really well for retained skin but are not always effective at loosening retained caps. The last thing that can be done is to remove the eyecap with a piece of scotch tape. If you are an inexperienced keeper or are unsure if your snake has a retained cap then stick with one of the first two options.

Removing an eyecap is fairly easy but you better be sure that there is a retained cap to be removed before you start. Dented eyes or wrinkled eyes are sometimes mistaken for a retained eyecap. If you try to remove a healthy eyecap (one that is not retained shed), you risk permanent damage to your snake’s eye. If you're in doubt, give the snake a humidity chamber or soak it.

Roll a piece of scotch tape, sticky side out, around your index finger. To remove the cap, gently roll your finger along the cap starting from the head of the snake and working towards the tail. The cap should come off easily and should be stuck to the tape. Make sure the tape does not touch the scales around the eye or the fold of skin between the eye and the scales surrounding the eye. Be gentle and use light pressure.

Do not use tape that is too sticky - packing tape, box tape, and duct tape are examples of types that should not be used. These tapes have strong adhesives and if you accidentally stick them to your snake's skin, scales will come off!