Skip to Content

Are Albino Snakes Blind?

The popularity of albino snakes has always been high but there is definitely a surge in the number of people wanting an albino snake right now for some reason.

We are not sure why there have been so many questions about keeping albino snakes recently but there has definitely been a large increase in the number of people reaching out with various questions recently.

One question that we have seen people asking is if albino snakes are blind or not and as many people overlook this, we wanted to publish a dedicated article on the topic.

Our hope is that we will be able to help as many of our readers as possible better understand the potential additional problems that an albino snake may have with its vision.

Still, in most cases, an albino snake can still make a great pet, especially if you get the animal from a repoutable breeder who keeps strong breeding lines and is able to produce a great, healthy animal.

Thankfully, in this day and age, the internet makes it quick and easy to research local breeders making it very simple to check if any potential breeder selling an albino snake has a good reputation or not.

Are Albino Snakes Blind?

The answer to this question is both yes and no as it really depends on the snake in question as every animal is different.

Albinoism is a genetic mutation that causes an animal to have a lack of pigment in their skin, eyes, and scales.

This can cause various problems for the animal such as making them more susceptible to skin cancer, eye problems, and in some cases, blindness.

Blindness

However, not every albino snake will be blind as there are a wide variety of factors that can affect a snake’s vision.

For example, if an albino snake is born with two functioning eyes, it is more likely that the animal will have better vision than an albino snake that is born with one functioning eye.

There are also other genetic mutations that can cause blindness in snakes such as anophthalmia which is a condition where the eyes are not properly developed in the womb.

So, while it is possible for an albino snake to be born blind, it is not guaranteed and there are many other factors that can affect a snake’s vision.

Vision Impairment

Vision impairment is far more common in albino snakes and although the snake will usually not be blind, they can often have difficulty seeing.

This is one of the main reasons that albino snakes are so rare in the wild, its not because they stick out more to potential predators, its because they struggle to strike their prey and hunt to be able to get food.

Thankfully, in pet snakes, this is not as much of a problem as many people think as you will usually be providing your albino snake with food.

This makes it much easier for the albino snake to strike and feed as its food is usually already dead while also being in an enclosed space.

If you are considering getting an albino snake as a pet, we recommend doing your research ahead of time and finding a reputable breeder who can provide you with a healthy, well-adjusted animal.

How Do You Know If Your Albino Snake Is Blind?

There are a few different ways that you can tell if your albino snake is blind or not and the most obvious way is by looking at their eyes.

If the snake’s eyes look cloudy, milky, or otherwise opaque, this is usually a sign that the animal is blind or has serious vision impairment.

This can be much harder to do with albino snakes though due to the differences in their eye color in many cases.

Of course, it is also worth noting that not all blind snakes will have cloudy eyes and in some cases, the only way to tell if a snake is blind is by their behavior.

For example, if your albino snake seems to be bumping into things or having trouble finding their food, this could be a sign that the animal is struggling with its vision.

If you are concerned that your albino snake may be blind, we recommend taking the animal to see a reptile veterinarian who can give you a professional opinion.

How Do Albino Snakes See?

As we mentioned before, albino snakes often have vision impairment and this can make it difficult for the animal to see clearly.

In most cases, an albino snake’s vision will be similar to a human’s who is suffering from colorblindness as the animal will have difficulty seeing certain colors.

This means that an albino snake may have trouble distinguishing between different colors of prey which can make it difficult for the animal to hunt and feed in the wild.

In captivity, this is not usually a problem as the snake’s food will usually be dead and in an enclosed space.

However, it is still important to be aware of this if you are considering getting an albino snake as a pet.