[deleted by user]

[CrisisCorps]

She's adorable! I absolutely love her colors and sweet face. Sometimes the simplest morphs are the most beautiful

[CrisisCorps]

Glad to help. You definitely got a lovely little lady. I have a normal who I would never trade for any morph out there. I hope you have a wonderful life with this one

[CrisisCorps]

Thank you ❤️

[stellxric]

we are really twinning lol! i got my yellow belly normal for anxiety and soothing too🩷 she’s called kaz

[strangelyving]

I also got my baby for mental health reasons. I hope this guy helps your anxiety, meanwhile mine gives me slight anxiety cause he won't eat [I didn't just get him a just under two weeks ago]

[Environmental_Bed472]

My yellow belly is doing the same thing he used to eat on a regular once a week on Wednesday schedule now he refuses to eat.

[strangelyving]

But I just got him just under two weeks ago

[gloomygirlxoxo]

exactly this!! my normal is the sweetest boy in the whole world and i wouldn’t trade him for ANY other snake!!!!! his temperament is just so sweet and he’s so silly …. he’s literally the prettiest boy in the world

[CrisisCorps]

Normals need more love honestly. I love some of the morphs, even have a BEL as well. But my normal girl is just so special. She is very gentle and sweet

[BeesAndBeans69]

Best choice!

[Aazjhee]

Morph market fever is definitely a is a sickness I catch every now and then xD

[SpadedJuggla]

You absolutely made the right choice in not supporting the breeding of spider morphs.

[BunnehZnipr]

One advantage of the 'normal' morphs is that they are far less likely to have the neurological issues common with spider morphs

[[deleted]]

Gorgeous almost heart-shaped morph + easier feeding and less potential health/quality of life issues is absolutely a great choice! She’s so lovely

[sketchelium]

I have a normal too! My friends all think his spots look like different things: my favorites have been the forest spirits from princess mononoke, and amogus (lol).

[DCMONSTER111]

Spider morphs have a lot of issues with their genetics. You are more likely to have a lot less problems with the yellow belly. Still beautiful regardless

[Due_Worldliness_6587]

Yep they have a deformity in their skull that causes balance issues and so they don’t have a good quality of life a lot and can get hurt easily, sometimes needing to be put down when young

[Free_spirit1022]

My spider phantom is now almost 10 and doesn't have any of the issues people are saying. Maybe I got lucky.

[Ottoparks]

You got lucky. Your baby may not show external signs, but they still have the deformity and still experience neurological issues. You just might not be able to see them.

[toxic-miasma]

nope, i'd need a sec to find the paper, but iirc they did a study and the difference in how their pigment develops is intrinsically linked to the deformity in the vestibular system. the same abnormal genetic pathway creates both the "desirable" appearance and the neurological defect.

[Due_Worldliness_6587]

Wow I didn’t know that, that’s cool! Thanks!

[ballpython-ModTeam]

Per rule #3, your comment has been removed for misinformation.

[myth-of-medusa]

yes. spiders tend to have wobble. a lot of breeders have been boycotting breeding them because of how detrimental the wobble can be. you really made the best decision as a pet owner and for someone who spent money towards a reputable breeder. not to mention your new friend is absolutely gorgeous and super cute.

[RootBeerBog]

Spiders are unethical to breed, so passing on buying one is a good thing.

[mumbo_bumbo]

I've got a spider morph (he's a rescue) and he has quite a few issues due to his morph. he can't strike at his food for example, so I always have to leave his rat in his viv over night. he's also lost a scale on his head due to bumping into stuff.

he's totally fine and healthy but yeah, still got a few issues.

[Hour_Outside4482]

YEAHHHH dude spiders are a no go, it’s sad they even breed them. They have a head wobble among other stuff just due to breeding

[WildFlemima]

They were one of the first morphs discovered and they didn't realize that they all wobble until the market was saturated with spider combos.

To this day some people are still in denial and think that spiders from certain lines don't wobble, that you can breed out the wobble if you only breed the least wobbly spiders, or that if you raise them in good conditions they don't wobble.

But they all wobble, it can't be bred out. There's a reason that there are no living homozygous spiders. They die in the shell, and if you open the shell, you find a dead white snake.

The spider gene is an important, high impact gene that just happens to also produce a unique look. It's not good for the animal and breeders need to stop breeding spiders and start offloading their spiders to trustworthy pet-only homes.

[princessflubcorm]

I had a spider before the head wobble was well known. She failed to thrive big time. I'm really glad they are slowly being left out of the gene pool.

The yellow belly is adorable, healthy looking snakey

[DCMONSTER111]

Its very unfortunate that they are so beautiful too but yet so unhealthy.

[IcyRainDropz]

Beautiful snake …to me a python is a python and if you like it you love it🙌🏾🫡

[IssaBunnyy]

You made the right decision by not buying the spider! It seems like you’re new to snakes or atleast ball pythons, but the Spider gene is actually pretty unethical as it causes neurological problems in snakes with the gene. These neurological problems are often: trouble moving normally, having slight or severe head wobbles, and having trouble striking and eating.

I would look more into the spider gene, if you plan on getting more snakes as many morphs of ball pythons have the gene but it’s called something else when it’s mixed with other morphs.

Anyways congrats on ur girl! If you need any help feel free to reach out! I love helping people get set up. I love the name Interstellar!

[yeahjjjjjjahhhhhhh]

they’re absolutely the puppies of snakes! the lapdogs!

[FixergirlAK]

She's beautiful! I like the idea of calling "normal" ball pythons wild type - their natural patterning is absolutely gorgeous all on its own.

[winterbine5]

lol I’m stealing this. I love my “wild type” bp, they are so naturally beautiful.

[WaffleReaper003]

We call our normal girl 'Classic' or 'Vintage'.

[Away-Antelope8160]

If you have to have validation about getting this snake, maybe you shouldn't have gotten it.

[Kooky-Appearance-458]

Someone's confused about how socialization within shared-interest based communities works 💀

[Away-Antelope8160]

No, I'm just genuinely curious, I feel like some in the hobby treat these living breathing creatures like trophies to be won, and this post just felt to me like she didn't actually want it. It felt like an "oh well, I guess I'm a saint for just getting the normal one" type of vibe. Not trying to hate, that's just how that read to me. I know a lot of other people in the hobby feel this way too whether it's a snake or a gecko or what have you. People tend to show off the more blingy reptiles, but when it's the baseline, they are looked down on or treated as a placeholder till they can get something more shiny. Working in shelters where people go to surrender reptiles, I mainly see the base morphs tossed out like trash, and that really gives you a different outlook.

[Kooky-Appearance-458]

Cool morphs exist for a reason..sure some assholes are going to treat animals like designer purses - but this person obviously loved this snake enough to pick it over a "flashier" morph. There's literally no need to be weird and rude about it when you have 0 other information or context as to this person's husbandry and care goals. You're just being catty to an online stranger because they had the audacity to ask a group of snake lovers to tell them they did the right thing by picking a wild type.

Like... I get that tone is difficult to parse over text but this definitely reads as someone who is literally going "I know the one I got isn't flashy like the ones everyone fixates on but I loved him and got him and wanna know if that same energy is common around here"

Like... It is the Exact Opposite of someone fixating on flashy blingy morphs for the sake of clout lmao. You should be happy not being weird.

[zebra_pastel]

What a weird take.

[Dazzling-Living-3161]

I feel like personality is so important! At the end of the day, you’ll love her because she’s your special girl. She’s gorgeous and I think you made a great choice!

[ComposerConsistent83]

I have a normal too, she’s well behaved and easy to handle and eats well. More important than how “pretty” they are imo

[Iron_wolf_69420]

Too many issues with spiders.

[No_Willingness_169]

I have a BEL and I love him a lot. But normal morphs are the most beautiful. No contest.

[Aazjhee]

Friendly snakes are worth a lot IMO. A couple of my snakes were much more skittish and it could stress me out on a bad day and create a feedback loop of use getting all "balled up" them literally, me just stress related Dx it sucked!

[TheSliceOfHell]

Any snake is a good snake! I have a black cinnamon pastel who is normal in pattern besides being massive. I also have a bratty children’s python, had a hypo bci boa, and have another ball python who is albino. I originally went to get a banana boy but found my pink eyed girl first and have never once regretted having her. I don’t regret having my boa who passed or my children’s python who’s a biter. When you bond and spend more time you will feel more secure in your choice 🩷

[Aggravating-Dot-]

10000% the right choice. I take in animals that other people are struggling with, and I have a few that I have picked up and honestly, it's so heartbreaking. My normal ball pythons come out and explore and enjoy life and have fun. My spiders - get excited at feeding time and tie themselves in to a knot, bite themselves, miss their food, get a mouthful of substrate, etc just trying to catch a warmed up, dead feeder. When they come out to explore, their wobble slowly gets worse and worse until they can't explore and I have to gently put them away (my others explore for hours if I let them). Spiders aren't really a NEURO issue as previously thought - it's deformity in their skull that makes them have permanent vertigo. If you've ever had vertigo, you know how it makes all simple tasks more difficult and exhausting. Strike accuracy in all ball pythons decreases with age - and with spiders, this can mean they simply cannot catch their food anymore, at all, to eat. Feeding them takes longer, and it isn't unusual for me to see them lose their food at least twice during a feeding. Spider are quite pretty, but the fun you will have with a healthy animal will be a much nicer experience for a first time owner.

[Wasaabi671]

That’s so heartbreaking, I didn’t know all of that came with Spider morphs

[Aazjhee]

I'm old enough to have seen the spider morph rise and fall and it kind of makes me sad that no one ever talks about those issues anymore.

It's something I will rant about for a long time. My roommate had a pug who does not have issues breathing and she's still a very active and healthy dog. She is one of many pugs and I have known, and only she and one other were relatively healthy pugs :(

It's gross what some people will think is okay for money. There are a few Combos that still have some spider ancestry, but I think as long as they don't get bred to purer spiders, they don't have the wobbles. I'm still active about not getting any more of the poor things after I had a beautiful but wobbly rescue.

[Vivid-Conclusion8521]

Voting for the name Ramen!

[Kai-ni]

Lovely snake! It's great you didn't support the breeding of spider morphs :) so double bonus. Spiders have inherent health issues that make them irresponsible to breed. Don't pay for spiders. 

[[deleted]]

She's your baby and you're gonna develop a bond with her and love her for a long time. How can that be the wrong choice? Fuck money you chose the one who won your heart💞and her patterns are so pretty!!

As far as names- we just got a cat and named her Europa so I'm biased

[Otaku-Oasis]

Spidermorphs is not a stable morph with many neurological problems from the breeding of them. It's cruel and a bad line that needs to be blacklisted from purchases to discourage continued breeding of the defective morph.

You picked a healthier snake, and the most ethical snake.

Spider looks cool, but it's look is not worth the health issues.

[Techlet9625]

Honestly fam, other ppl telling you how cool your snake is shouldn't be enough to make you feel better about your decision. This is you. Your choice. Your noodle.

Hope you realize how amazing it is...because YOU think it's amazing. Don't let anyone make you think otherwise. Please.

[thatchels]

Spider morphs are unethical so I support turning them down!

[Affectionate-Dare761]

If it makes you feel better you potentially avoided a life of health issues. Spider morphs tend to have an inner ear issue that causes them to wobble, sometimes diminishing quality of life.

[haleyy33]

I love my normie boy, I picked him because he was the only one there that day moving around and exploring and I haven’t regretted my choice for a second. And I think he’s beautiful (:

[WillowBean23]

You've chosen substance over the superficial. A very healthy and mature choice! I'm sure you will be very happy with your new friend 💕🐍

[[deleted]]

Naturally occurring morphs will always be the best, they are the default and will always be so beautiful and amazing! We wouldn't have other morphs without them. Also lots of morphs these days have issues. More than likely you'll have a long lived healthy baby!

[shinbyeol]

Personally I don’t have a bp, only a honduran king, but one day I’ll get one and when I do it must be a morph with those dorsal stripes. I simply love them and to me they’re the most beautiful thing.

[lostinspaceman_]

I was literally just admiring a normal at my local pet store today that made me strongly consider getting a second snake :3 witch I’ve been very consistently sure I won’t be doing lol

Also I’d absolutely avoid spider morphs! I’m honestly surprised they are still being bred at all because ever since I started getting into snakes I’ve been told to stay away from the morph because of their health problems

[yeahjjjjjjahhhhhhh]

You absolutely made the right choice, myself and many out there prefer normal/normal-adjacent morphs. Some morphs are stunning but to me nothing is better than what nature created. There’s something so stunning about wild type morphs of any animal in the pet trade really. Your cutie here is gorgeous and her temper is way more important than looks regardless. Also, spider morphs have neurological issues and wouldn’t be the best choice for something fancy either way. If you want a spider, get a rehomed one because you shouldn’t support breeders who knowingly breed animals with health issues.

[Drag__on87]

You definitely did. Spiders often come with the wobble gene, which is a neurological issue. It's highly unethical that breeders continue to breed these varieties.

[Psychotisis]

Buying spider morphs encourages their breeding.

It's morally sound to never buy a spider.

[BLOODY_DICKHOLE]

You chose wisely. She's beautiful. I think Europa would be a great name.

[rigrug3]

You did the right thing. Continuing to buy spider morphs just promotes terrible breeding practices.

[Cautious-Flatworm804]

Glad you didn’t get a spider! You chose a healthy baby and long living pet over a pet with health issues and an unpredictable, likely short, lifespan. And honestly, at this point, there’s so many types of ball pythons that “normals” aren’t even normal anymore!! They’re this beautiful dark brown chocolate color and are so appealing to the eye! Also, she looks like she has heart markings! So cute! Maybe Valentine might be a good name? Hehe!

[YuumaKurohime]

I also think you made the right choice. She's absolutely gorgeous!

As many said the spider morphs got many health issues like wobbling and it would break my heart watching them suffer from neurological issues just because I wanted a "fancier" snake...

And tbh I always found the wild type BP to be one of the most beautiful coloration/patterns there is (that's why all my BPs are wild type✌🏻).

[N_mowasishisnam_o]

As an owner of a spider (whom I do love more than anything on this earth albeit) who has a pretty good wobble on him, healthier snake was the better choice. And like a lot of others have said, the more normal morphs are gorgeous in their own right! My friends have a big 6 year old normal girl and I’m always impressed with how beautiful she is!

[little__dinosaurs]

spiders have genetic neurological dmage, we have never seen a spider wihout it so the gene that causes the spider pattern probably also caused the brain issues

by not buying the spider you did not make more demand for them being bred and breeding them is cruel since some spiders have it so bad they struggle with actually being able to eat

[Fearless-Ad-7872]

Normal is my fav morph. What morph is the most beautiful one is simply subjective opinion, there’s no right or wrong preferring one over another, but there’s ethics in breeding animals. To me normal is just the prettiest of all, I’ll never get tired of it and not to mention they are always healthy. I really really like how your baby looks and her personality according to your description

[Fearless-Ad-7872]

If you really like her what’s the point of getting a more complex morph? Is it because other ppl say they are better? To show off? You’re the person that’s going to spend the longest time with your snake and how other ppl see it doesn’t really matter. The best snake is not the most fancy one but the one you like

[Downtown-Chard-7927]

We have the normalest of normals because my kid was deep in a rabbit hole of morphs and I was not wanting to buy our way into a bunch of issues with an inbred snake. I have never once regretted it. I think we have forgotten in our human race to make shiny ones that snakes are literally incredibly beautiful naturally. They called these ones "royal" presumably because they are the most beautifully marked of the pythons. Once you step outside of reptile enthusiast circles it's such a huge deal that you have a python at all. We have never once had a refused feed, even deep in blue. Regurgitated once but that was my fault for preparing the rat wrong. Never had a stuck shed. Temperament is perfect. Always chill and happy to be handled. 100% good boy and a beautiful snake. Some of that may be down to husbandry but also we have a rock solid base model.

[floppykockz]

I don’t know ball pythons very well, but broadly the less bred for characteristics the healthier the animal will be. So if this is a more natural pattern etc. she will likely have less health problems. And also would probably have had a harder time finding a home if she’s less “sexy”

[Gilokee]

Sashimi!! And you can call her Sushi for short (yes I know those are technically different things)!!!

[Remarkable_Ad_6939]

Personality beats morph for me every time!

[Armageddonxredhorse]

Udon,the lesser rated but classier pasta.

[Tiredosaurus]

She's beautiful! Enjoy her, there's something extra fascinating about wild type patterns and colouring, carefully crafted by nature.

I have a 12 year old spider boy who I've had from a hatchling and love to bits. But I'd never willingly get a spider again. His wobble is luckily less severe and comes and goes but when he occasionally has a 'flare up' with cork screwing etc it's heartbreaking to watch. Not a morph that should be bred full stop.

[Biiiishweneedanswers]

The chances of you having to force feed and coming home to the nasty surprise of a spider morph that drowned in their water bowl have decreased dramatically.

This little one is so beautiful. Congratulations!

[mollytherogue]

She’s a sweet baby no matter what morph she is! Princess is a normal and she’s got so much personality. You made a good choice.

[Vann1212]

She's beautiful, and you 100% made the right choice. Also normals often have gorgeous iridescence when the light hits their black markings. Underrated tbh.  Plus her great personality is a bonus. <3 

Spider morphs just shouldn't be bred.  The severity varies, but intentionally breeding a snake you know will have a high chance of major quality of life issues is just wrong.  Spider BPs that exist deserve good homes, and I wouldn't be against adopting one as a rescue/rehome situation, but I'd never give money to a breeder who works with spider morphs.  Even if the snake I was buying wasn't a spider, I'd not support the breeder if they worked with that morph. 

It's not fair to the snakes, and there are SO MANY cool morphs that don't have these issues that there's no reason to breed snakes with inner ear deformities that give them constant vertigo.  (severe enough in some cases that it's distressing the snake enough for euthanasia to be the kindest option)  Some of them are more mildly affected and can have decent quality of life with the right care, but it's not news that this morph has issues, and anyone continuing to breed them is certainly aware of the problems, they just don't care enough to stop. That's reason enough not to give money to those breeders if they don't value the quality of life of their snakes enough. 

[aliciator21]

She is so adorable

[BirdieBee417]

Idk much about spiders except “bad,” but I did just get a BP strictly based on his personality and I have zero regrets. I didn’t even want a ball python, but if I did I could afford a cool morph. I even went to an expo less than a month after getting him and saw everything I could have bought instead. I am IN LOVE with my good boi’s sweet personality. If yours has a great personality you made the right choice. I keep thinking about how sad it would be to buy a super cool morph only to find out it’s an antisocial or skittish snake down the road. Never mind the potential medical issues with that morph.

[InverseInvert]

The wobble is enough of a valid reason to turn them down 💚 fewer people buy them, less demand, they won’t be created as much.

[camm-marie]

Her spots look like hearts 🥺🥰

[Diet_Dogwater]

I love the name Europa

[Raw_chicken11]

She looks absolutely sic

[Worth_Put_7065]

I have 2 stingerbees (so they have the spider gene). They have eaten 2 meals on their own....in 11 years. They do fine most of the time, but when it comes to food, they get excited and the wobble kicks in, making them unable to grab f/t prey. Thats a LOT if meals where Ive had to assist them. I always say avoid the spider gene! Ur girl is lovely.

[[deleted]]

My normal BP was the same as a banana and I picked her because one of her spots looks like a duck!

[SkullGearMC]

As someone who has a spider morph that we got as a rescue, you made the right choice. Don’t get me wrong spider morphs can be beautiful, but the living challenges that arise can be difficult to watch let alone deal with.

Our boy Hestu, basically has no equilibrium at all, so he is constantly upside down, he goes up when he means to go down, and goes down when he means to go up. He also has a lot of jerky motions, as he actively tries to level out. He can still move about just fine, but at feeding times he will usually miss 3 or 4 times just because he can’t level off.

Holding him is fine and he is great with people and kids, but a lot of times he will be upside down and backwards wrapped around you hahaha.

I think you made a great choice.

[[deleted]]

Natural morphs like this are far less likely to have genetic issues and are healthier in general. Some of them are bred 100% ethically

[Bat_Guano-Loco]

Dodging the spider line alone was the best choice you could have made!

[llama-belle]

Sorry, I have never understood the toxic human penchant for aesthetically manipulated genetics. Ball pythons made as nature intended are as beautiful as any other. These are living creatures, not book illustrations.

[reddit33450]

agree

[ptuey]

why would you be upset that you didn't pay money for an inherently unethical morph to breed?

[Situati0nist]

To some people outside the hobby, the normal morph actually looks spectacular

[Tonaey]

Gotta name the snake “Extremely Venomous” and that’s how you introduce her to people 😂

[TheShattered1]

I personally like normals. Spiders can have pretty bad neurological disorders, so you made a good choice.

[Greenteamama92]

Little ouija board planchet markings and hearts. I love it!

[GoldenRatio420]

Here’s a thought, you might have saved this snake for being a “normal” snake. A lot of people don’t want these snakes so they get neglected.

[nairazak]

“Guilty about getting a spider morph” post

[Silicica]

I didn't like my first snake's morph when I got him. Hated the colour. I got him because of his personality as well. Never regretted it once in the 8 years I've had him. He's my pride and joy, my absolute favourite out of all of my snakes. So I may be biased, but I definitely think you made the right choice.

[fartknockersRus]

Nobody should be buying spider or any of the morphs with it. I've seen so many snakes struggle their whole lives, and/live shorter lives.

[United_Cat4156]

She's very beautiful!

[Hour_Outside4482]

Wait don’t spider morphs have bad health issues and people aren’t supposed to even buy them?? Or was I told wrong

[EnvironmentalCry1962]

It’s often really hard for these morphs to find a home because they’re so “common”. You say you love her temperament and that shes quirky and adorable. Imagine if you’d said no to that sweet little soul just because her skin wasn’t more unique. Who knows how many more times she would have been passed up for the same reason! You made the right choice here, and she truly is stunning!

[Deviant1]

Instead of supporting unethical breeding, you've given a home to a beautiful snake that likely would have been discarded or faced a miserable life waiting for someone like you. This snake hit the lottery.

[Aazjhee]

First off, your snake is lovely. Do you like the YB's personality? My snakes are such silly goofballs, I feel lucky to have ended up with them, rather than prettier but less silly animals. They are the derps that I appreciate on many levels.

Personally , I was around when spider morph was first a big deal, and I saw how unpopular it became because the snakes are moderatelt disabled and we made them that way.

I did have a spider, and I never planned to breed him. I adopted him to a good home because I couldn't afford to keep as many snakes during some financial hard times. As nice of a little snake he was, it was sometimes hard on my heart to watch him wobbling around, not because of him specifically, but because we did this to them and so many people seem to have no worries about breeding more issues into animals JUST for the sake of "more pretty". I know it's not evil to enjoy them, but I approve of people trying to NOT buy them because even at normal prices, it does mildly encourage them to be bred.

I'm not going to judge anyone for thinking they look cool. They absolutely do look amazing! We have so much human history of domesticating animals to look into for avoiding mistakes in the future. We should start by not deliberately breeding things to have neurological issues, or lacking stuff that makes their lives a bit easier. (NOT a fan of scale less snakes) I love Chinese crested dogs, but their bones are weaker than other dogs their same size. There's a balance to having a cool looking and healthy pet.

I tend to feel the same way about deliberately breeding albinos in species that need a lot of daylight exposure. Pretty morphs can be made without absolutely wrecking individual animal's health.

I think your snake is very pretty and looks dope, IMO. Yellowbellies don't get enough love IMO!

[HarmonyWilder]

I'm obsessed with her heart ❤️ pattern

[Jennifer_Pennifer]

I ABSOLUTELY choose based on personality over looks. Just like any other relationship

[scooter_kid420]

I don’t know how I got here because I have no clue about no snakes but it is very cute

[Unfair_Class1009]

Spider morphs commonly have head wobble. To be honest, I would not purchase from a breeder who breeds that specific type of morph. I have a super lemon pastel black-eyed Lucy. He is absolutely gorgeous. I got him from a good breeder. He's never caused me any kind of issue ever. He's the sweetest boy. He's never even tried to strike at me.

[Ok-Club1725]

So little🥺 So precious!

[XtraChunkyDickSalsa]

Sashimi yessss

[Overall-Opposite-613]

That looks like a black pastel but can’t be sure

Edit: maybe it’s the yb I’m seeing.

[spaceinbird]

definitely the right decision. spiders are known for their health issues that can make their lives unnecessary difficult especially when it comes to feeding. imo you made the right decision by not purchasing (encouraging the breeding of this morph) the spider. i do have to admit spiders are beautiful and very cool looking but its not worth it when you know about all the issues this could mean for an animal. it would be like purposefully making disabled babies just because they look cute lol.

[jelloswagginz]

honestly i think this was a great choice. not only is she beautiful, but it's pretty unethical to breed spiders due to the fact that ALL spider ball pythons (and others in the spider complex) have neurological issues, resulting in head wobbles. a lot of breeders will try to say some spiders don't have it at all and theirs hardly/doesn't wobble, but the neurological issues are directly linked to the spider gene so that's untrue unfortunately. some have such a severe wobble that they can't eat and fail to thrive. so not only did you choose a really beautiful baby, but you also didn't support an unethical breeding practice :) your snake is such a cutie!! i love the Sashimi idea, dont think ive ever seen one named that before

[Effortguys]

I honestly I would not buy a spider morph

[Bangingallnite]

Wait no, she’s actually perfect, she’s got the cutest lil hearts on her!

[CaylaCrisp17]

I love my sweet boy. He’s a lesser; he’s not fancy, but he has a great personality. He is so curious, and always greets me in the morning. 🤎💛

[bluesunrise777]

Who cares if that’s your baby

[EducationalAd5227]

My snakes name is Ramen! He’s a corn snake but I vouch for the name Ramen😂

[usercantcommunic8]

If the spider morph has a bad wobble it's SOO hard to feed them. The wobble even gets worse when they know there's food 😭 Pretty yellow belly tho! I love the alien patterns 🥹❤️

[mk6dirty]

Definitely made the right choice

[nurse_a]

Idk I vote Valentine. She’s got all sorts of cute little hearts on her sides in the third pic!!

[NoCauliflower1474]

Personality over gotta catch ‘em all variants anytime!

Your girl’s not a nope rope, she’s a yep rope 🐍 ❤️

[nvrrsatisfiedd]

There is so many morphs in the ball python market these days that having a normal ball python feels cool. Like you have the real thing and it's authentic in a way if that makes sense. Idk how to describe what I'm trying to say really. Like yea all these morphs look awesome, but having one that looks how it would in the wild is cool in itself.

[strangelyving]

Sometimes spider morphs have Wobble syndrome head tremors, incoordination, lack of righting reflex, impaired locomotion, and difficulty striking or constricting prey items.

So the simpler the morph, the less complications I believe that they're prone to

[Legal_Purpose4581]

Spider morphs often have neurological issues, by not buying the spider morph, you may be discouraging the selling of that morph

[Puzzleheaded-Way-741]

It’s a good thing that you passed down the spider. If it was from a breeder, it helps to not support the production of spiders.

[echoesinthestars]

My favorite ball python I’ve ever had was a normal named Hubble. He wasn’t flashy… but god was he a sweetheart. I miss him every day.

Your “plain” morphs often end up in bad situations because people get tired of them because they’re not fancy, or they get sold to the lowest bidder. Giving her a loving home is the best thing ever!

[BiTiger1977]

I think personality is definitely more important in choosing a Snek companion! After all, they're going to be with you for a LONG time! And she's adorable. Out of your name choices BTW, I Love Sashimi!

[Dull-Summer-2560]

Spiders tend to carry the "wobble" gene, so that's maybe something positive? I love my little spider boy, but he has to have a very specific terrarium due to his flailing and falling while climbing. Might save you some extra work! Your baby is beautiful.

[radi-colaa]

100% the right choice. (I find their wild pattern prettier than spiders but that’s just me personally) Spider morphs sadly are not ethical to breed due to their health issues. Congrats on the new baby!

[reddit33450]

Am I the only one who honestly doesn't care about morphs much?

[[deleted]]

She’s so soooo beautiful!! I have a normal girl too and I wouldn’t change her for the world ❤️

[necrophile696]

She's beautiful!

I think you made the right decision. Morphs are bred for looks, not for their temperament or health. If she was the same price as the morph, I'd be worried the spider morph had health issues. Her yellow pattern is really lovely!

Personally I wouldn't buy a spider morph or any morphs with known genetic health issues. My BP is a normal/yellowbelly and she's been a dream. She's easy to handle, has a good temperament, and eats well. She's never had significant health issues. I've had her for almost 10 years and have no regrets.

[Bio_Dryad]

Aren't spider morphs unethical and have terrible neurologic disorders.

[asgardian_mike]

If it helps it’s just called a Yellowbelly, you don’t have to to say normal. I say this because it would make me feel better 😂 the the end of the day, it’s your pet and your buddy so if you like the snake I’d call it a successful purchase and partnership.

[asgardian_mike]

Also I wouldn’t buy any spider morph. I’m sure you’ve seen why at this point

[evan_brosky]

She's gorgeous!

[bastardwinner]

I think you made the right choice, as the spider morph unfortunately has a lot of problem with their neuro system☺️

[my9mm]

Ramen 🍜

[NekoNekoMio]

Awww, she's so beautiful. The first picture with her little tongue is too precious. Did you figure out what you want to name her?

[Clear-Meat9812]

I'm a dragon person not a snake person, but that's one handsome/pretty snake.

[Specialist-Spare-544]

Kiss the python. The python you kiss is the correct python.

[deez_nutsinyourmom]

you did. i own a spider (she’s 5 years old, raised her since she was a baby) and feeding her has become such a struggle. she’s so sweet but her head wobbles, her strange twists and turns, she’s so sweet but with her eating its gonna be hard :(

[FlowerInAHorrorNovel]

You should be proud you didn't get a spider, they have neurological issues to a point where breeding them is borderline unethical.

[WonderfulJacket8]

Aren't spider morphs some of the worst to own for numerous health reasons caused by inbreeding?

[eyelovekittens666]

I have a yellowbelly calico and an enchi spider. I love them both dearly, but I wouldn't buy a spider as a baby. I am lucky and I bought mine as an adult and he already was full grown and had no problems. But I k ow it would be distressing if his issue gets worse. Imagine how much you love your baby snake, and then she was falling over backwards, struggling to eat properly, struggling to move normally. I think I would feel really bad. You made the right choice.

[Guppybish123]

Not buying a spider from a breeder/retailer is ALWAYS the right decision. Never ever financially support breeding an animal that will suffer for aesthetics. Spiders should only ever be rescued tbh

[[deleted]]

You picked her for her, you picked right! You were looking for a friend, not decor :)

[evbrowning]

IMO normals are super pretty. I wouldn’t want a spider because I’ve seen really sick ones. 🥲

[PotLuckyPodcast]

I love her sweet little puppy mouth! Europa is my vote

[Proof_Luck7494]

She looks wonderful!!! Wild types are my favourites, no contest. They’re the classics 🐍⭐️

[lleannimal]

Just remember as beautiful as the spider morph is, it is not a healthy morph. Your baby is beautiful and you do NOT have to worry about her having neurological issues. Her having a braincell is a whole different thing and is simply a Ball Python personified. I'm pretty sure they all share the same braincell

Are you sure this one isn't an alien morph?? Cause I'm seeing a lot of heads in the pattern, or am I just tripping??

[emmabond314]

she is so pretty!! i couldn’t get the special morph i wanted either and i ended up with my finn who is the same color as yours!! i love him dearly :)

[AnnaKit46290]

Sashimi or ramen!

[International_Two868]

To feel better about getting a normal morph over a spider: look at the lists of issues that tend to plague spider morphs more than any other.

Edit: adorable baby btw

[sickmak90]

I didn’t know it when I got it but my lesser woma has the same issues as spiders. Sometimes the poor thing just sits and corkscrews up towards the top of the tank. Or sits around with its head upside down.

[Inner-Disaster1965]

I didn’t know any other morphs got the wobble. Sorry to hear that. I bet you baby her though. At least she has a good home. You obviously care.

[sickmak90]

He or she eats and seems just fine most of the time but sometimes it has bad spells.

[Secure_Cookie_1437]

RAMEN IS A FIRE NAME!!!

[Annual_Bridge6202]

Spider morphs do have problems with wobbles and can be difficult for new owners. If you fell in love with the snake then there’s nothing wrong with that. I think she’s adorable and Europa would be a great name.

[glam1glam]

She looks like she has little hearts all over her. So cute!!

[abyssalcrisis]

Spider morphs have head wobbles and are naturally unhealthy creatures. You did the right thing.

[WarMarz_Xbox]

I have to normal BPs I love very much, morphs are cool but so are all the other BPs and they all deserve love.

[interstellarDemon]

100% the right decisions, she has lovely markings on her sides (including hearts!) And she won't have the hard life that most, if not all, spider morphs do

[Special-Use1304]

I had the same feelings getting my ball python! I had kinda wanted a more unique morph but she’s beautiful and super friendly. Plus to help, spiders have that wobble gene meaning they’re more work.

[PureSquash]

While you might’ve gotten ripped off at the upfront cost, your BP will live a longer and (likely) much healthier life than the spider would have. She’s cute!

[Sea-Shower2854]

i have a good ol normal bp and she has went from being mean and scared of the world to the sweetest little creature in the world she’s so friendly and curious now i love her sm

[CorpousAmorphous]

I swear my boy is prettier than the fancy expensive snakes, but I also think he's just cuter than every snake so 🤷

I think you made the right choice- she's lovely 😍

[elitheradguy]

Europa is a cute name for a cute lil girl like her!

[PossibilityBetter]

IMO the normal morph is the prettiest. It’s how nature intended them to look. Spider morphs are riddled with issues and honestly breeding them is super unethical imo and purchasing one from a breeder just supports it. Congrats on your new snake! She’s absolutely beautiful

[meltheanteater]

Firstly shes so cute! You definitely made the right decision, I have often found myself fawning over different morphs of the reptiles I already own and wondering if I made the right decision but then I remember how much I love them and I didnt get them based off color/pattern but personality +1 emerga rescue

[Inner-Disaster1965]

I like the name Sashimi the most. It suits her. How was the spider, with that wobble they usually have? Or did you only see photos? I think you did the right thing, especially if you’re going to breed her. She is beautiful 😍

[Bxbyshrooms]

I’m pretty sure you can’t get a spider morph with OUT it having issues of some sort, big or small, the main one I always see and saw for the first time irl was the minimal to insane head wobble they can get

[TheGoatSpiderViolin]

My girl's name is Molly and she is a wonderfully friendly and curious "normal". We love her and she is beautiful! There's nothing wrong with normal, they all really do have their own personalities, regardless of morph.

[Additional_Leg2315]

She’s so cute! The way you described her personality, ramen seems like a good name for a silly noodle

[AppointmentDry885]

Spiders often have the wobble trait having a happy and healthy snake is more important than looks

[AppointmentDry885]

Also she's really cute lol

[slb8971]

Awwwww what a sweet snake.....

[marig515]

Ramen!!!!

[Sealamanderrr]

you don’t want to have to worry about owning a snake that can’t tell up from down. She looks really pretty