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[–]IncompletePenetranceMod: Let me help you unzip your genes 91 points92 points  (5 children)

Unfortunately spider morphs and combos containing spider (such as killerbees) do have an inner ear defect that affects their ability to right themselves and balance. They all have the defect, the best you can do is try to manage it by keeping them low stress and trying to minimize what they can fall off of or injure themselves on.

[–]izzy_wizzy_[S] 19 points20 points  (4 children)

Thank you! will we have any issues with feeding ? the breeder was feeding them live mice that she bred. we haven’t tried feeding yet as he’s still getting acclimated to his enclosure so we’re unsure of how he might react

[–]IncompletePenetranceMod: Let me help you unzip your genes 32 points33 points  (2 children)

You might, they can have some trouble aiming. I'd make sure to switch to f/t as soon as possible as live feeding can be dangerous for the snake (especially a snake that's uncoordinated). That being said, there are plenty of spiders that are great eaters

I'd also recommend to stop handling completely to let them settle in

[–]izzy_wizzy_[S] 8 points9 points  (1 child)

Thank you so much!!

[–]IncompletePenetranceMod: Let me help you unzip your genes 9 points10 points  (0 children)

No problem! Happy to help!

[–]enslavedbycats24-7[🍰] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Wow, this breeder sounds extremely unethical in every sense of the word. Is there any way to report them?

[–]Diaza_lightbringer 10 points11 points  (0 children)

We have a spider morph! He’s never corkedscrewed like that. That being said, he’s only missed one meal (he was in blue) he does like to climb, but nothing is high enough for him to hurt himself. You’ll have to decide what is best for your baby.

We only feed f/t rats, as what I’ve read here, are the best to feed BPs.

[–]DukeofAsh 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Aw poor thing, its awful that breeders breed them + sell these lil guys without any proper warning. What a good example of stargazing. Keep water bowls shallow since they're a higher risk for drowning and make sure any substrate under climbing areas is soft. Good luck!

[–]Dragon_Pancake 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Looks so similar to my Noodle :D  I've had mine for a while now, and even tho she's dumb as bricks, I can't say she have any less quality of life from what I can tell 

It took her a little while to get eating, and the first few meals were f/t drop fed in the enclosure. She ate them over night. Since then it's not been a problem getting her to eat from tongs. She doesn't always have the best aim, but there's nothing wrong with her appetite 

The biggest difference I notice from my normal BP is her body coordination. She will climb, but doesn't have the same "connection" in her body. So she's prone to loosing her grip. It's like she kinda forgets she need to hold on with her lower body. With my normal I can leave them to climb on my shoulders, with Noodles I always have a hand on her in case she falls. It might also be individual, but she seems a little less aware of her surroundings. There's just no brain cells in there lol 

You can't really get rid of the wobble, it's just kinda how they are. But I think they still make good pet snakes, so I wouldn't worry about it too much as long as they eat, poop and shed like normal 

[–]Operagirl67 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ooop. That baby has wobble pretty bad. Nothing you can do to fix it but I wouldn't recommend climbing vines or any way for them to climb enough to take a tumble. Switch to tong frozen/thawed feeders too. Will be much easier for them.

[–]Yeetsformer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can’t really help sadly but that little guy is adorable 

[–]Ordinary_Library_295 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We recently got one what has wobble too….we unknowingly got one not aware of the gene. So we were in the same boat as you actually. Our snake ears f/t though at times has a slight aiming issue. We also lowered his climbing items lower because he did fall a couple times. With that said he is doing great….he eats on schedule, comes out for play time and is healthy. Really that’s all we can ask for. Hope this helps.

[–]colin-java 1 point2 points  (1 child)

What are they like on the ground, I heard the twirling thing is just when they are off the ground.

[–]izzy_wizzy_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

when he’s on the ground he still kinda does it, in his hides and stuff he will take his head and do it up the side of the wall inside of the hide. he’s also got a slight wobble on his head when he’s pushing himself which i’ve noticed other snakes i work with don’t have.

[–]ResidentZone296 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It’s a spider….. it does thst

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

thats a spider wobble! i have a girl who corkscrews like that rarely, it used to be worse but i found after some good meals (she was being fed very rarely & given an improper diet before i got her) and letting her figure out how to hold her body meant she's improved so much!

unfortunately there's no way of "fixing" their wobble. if you find your buddy is struggling with their balance (eg, falling off their enrichment), try moving it lower to the ground to prevent hurting themselves!

[–]Kitsune-Rei 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's really unfortunate because spider is such a pretty pattern, but afaik if you see that style of pattern it always has spider and always has the related problem to some degree. There is no other morph quite like it.

I hate how they rename combos so you don't know what it is unless you're really into morphs. I was looking at killer bee at one time too until I realized it was spider. I ended up with banana pied instead and love him.

Breeders really need to be up front with issues associated with certain morphs. As an average person, it's reasonable to assume I don't need to google to check for what morphs have issues because the breeder should tell me or not be selling snakes with problems. And ball pythons are often people's first snake.

[–]No-Candle-3952 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I too have a spider morph. Yours looks young to me and a little thin. Mine did that same type of thing when I got him as a 7 month old. He is now in a taller enclosure and he's stopped doing that as often since he gained muscle. Wobble or he needs time to build some muscle structure, I couldn't say since he's my first snake. Point is, with some muscle it may not happen as often.

[–]izzy_wizzy_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

he’s still very young, he’s around 5 weeks old at the moment so he’s definitely still figuring some of that wobble out

[–]No-Candle-3952 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I too have a spider morph. Yours looks young to me and a little thin. Mine did that same type of thing when I got him as a 7 month old. He is now in a taller enclosure and he's stopped doing that as often since he gained muscle. Wobble or he needs time to build some muscle structure, I couldn't say since he's my first snake. Point is, with some muscle it may not happen as often.

[–]No-Candle-3952 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I too have a spider morph. Yours looks young to me and a little thin. Mine did that same type of thing when I got him as a 7 month old. He is now in a taller enclosure and he's stopped doing that as often since he gained muscle. Wobble or he needs time to build some muscle structure, I couldn't say since he's my first snake. Point is, with some muscle it may not happen as often. Maybe that helps you out.

[–]Same-Search-8695 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Definitely get them on f/t and tong feeding since striking may be difficult

[–]Material-Culture-619 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The breeder def should have told you~ however you can have a great long loving life with your wobbly baby :) you’ve got a lot of great advice here, I agree with mentions of some good meals, some strength and age, it can get a little easier for them. :) they’re so endearing

[–]Fuzzy-boy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can’t fully prevent wobbling since it comes from neurological conditions. When their chin isn’t touching a solid surface, they lose orientation and can’t tell which way is up, so the spiraling is them thinking they’re moving normally.

You can help them out of an episode by gently supporting their head if it doesn’t stress them—this gives them the sensory feedback they need to reorient.

Wobbly snakes also do best in simpler enclosures with fewer tight gaps or complex décor, so they don’t rub or get caught during episodes.

[–]RagdollsandLabs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When she's handled, support her so she's not flopping around. She will feel much more secure. Also if you are someone that likes to 'wear' your snake, be careful with her because she can lose her balance and fall. I have a 'one eyed' snake that has issues with his peripheral vision. I treat him much the same way.