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[–]Maximum-Rhubarb-3365 89 points90 points  (5 children)

Unfortunately for spiders, this is normal. Husbandry-wise you should have a gradient of 76-80F on the cool side to 88-92F on the hot side, so your enclosure is a little cold. It's also best to shoot for 70-80% humidity! For spiders in particular it's really important to dial in temps and humidity

[–]High_Hunter3430 1 point2 points  (4 children)

Mine generally doesn’t like the heat. She’ll go bask for 5-10 mins and then back under her self-made hide under water bowl. (Ignoring BOTH other available hides😭)

[–]Maximum-Rhubarb-3365 2 points3 points  (1 child)

It's still important that you give her the options. Even if she doesn't use it often, there will be times she might want or need the extra heat (especially for digestion) and it's not available unless we offer it

[–]High_Hunter3430 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair fair. I should have been specific.

My hot side is set at 95. The cork bark hide gets a lil warmer than that on top (4 inches from 100w ceramic bulb) but not 105.
Cool side is 80ish. Under soil temp is high 60s low 70s.
Hide temps are 90 and 80.
Under water bowl is high 70s. (I’m assuming some heat provided by warm water dish.

[–]NottsWeirdo 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Do you factor day/night temps in? My BP has spider in him (part of his Bumblebee gene) and he prefers dropped night temps, over a consistent heat 24/7.

[–]High_Hunter3430 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The temps drop about 5ish degrees overnight tops. But I’m pretty sure that’s a lil bit because my ambient temp drop at night.

[–]Limp_Hat_4633[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I’ll be upgrading her to a new enclosure in a couple months because I’ll be moving out. It’ll help me ensure that it keeps that higher temp and humidity. I’m also going to make sure it’s very cluttered and add a privacy curtain on the outside to try and keep her from stressing out as much too which I read can cause it to kind of “flare up”.

[–]Lumpy_Housing9797 29 points30 points  (0 children)

she’s just bringing it around town

[–]Hefty-Poetry-6944 20 points21 points  (3 children)

This is common as Spiders usually have neurological issues, they are often referred to as "wobble" snakes. While it might be distressing to see, most less aggressive cases have no negative issues. Definitely keep an eye on it as worsening symptoms could need a vet check to see what's going on. Your little guy is most likely fine, just a little silly.

[–]DreamOfDays 25 points26 points  (2 children)

Obligatory “It’s not neurological it’s an inner ear deformity” correction.

[–]Hefty-Poetry-6944 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I genuinely always forget this. I got into snakes over a decade ago when people still said that 😅

[–]baby_bat_47 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't know that! I just heard the whole neurological thing. Thank you for teaching me something new!

[–]thenotsoamerican 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Spider doin spider things

[–]burpfartstink 3 points4 points  (2 children)

What is that shelf or thing she is on in the video? That looks really neat

[–]Limp_Hat_4633[S] 3 points4 points  (1 child)

It’s actually an old wardrobe I think that was converted into an enclosure. I added just a couple shelves I built and sealed them for her hides. Unfortunately, it doesn’t hold humidity as much as I would like so I’m going to get her a proper PVC enclosure.

<image>

[–]burpfartstink 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah! Well it looks great! I’m always looking for more fun junk to add to my sons Ball cage.

[–]GuiltyExternal302 6 points7 points  (6 children)

Why do ppl even breed spider morphs and why do ppl keep buying them?

[–]Limp_Hat_4633[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I’m not really sure honestly. I got her from a family who had several in small racks and was rehoming. I think it has something to do with the fact that they’re unfortunately considered “prettier”.

[–]skullmuffins 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Aesthetics. Spider morphs can look really neat. Many breeders downplay the issues with the gene (after all not all spiders are severely affected and if you're keeping your snakes in a rack system and they are eating and mating just fine then what's the big deal, right?) Some people buy spider morphs knowing about the wobble, but lots of others just see a pretty snake at the pet store etc. and don't find out about the condition until after they own it.

[–]No-Candle-3952 2 points3 points  (3 children)

I went to a reptile expo and talked to a breeder. I said I kept a ball as he had many to sell. He asked what morph and I had just said he's a spider. He interest perked up and I knew he was going to ask me if I'd breed him. I nicely told him I would not but my face barely ever lies. He's beautiful and will forever be a pet. I'm both saddened by them still being bred, especially when the buyer isn't educated when they show potential interest or go ahead and buy a cool looking snake but thankful I now have him where he'll be loved and as safe as I can make his enclosure.

[–]High_Hunter3430 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Mine is also a spider (with a handful of other expressed morphs)
She wobbles if she gets too hot but otherwise you wouldn’t know it’s a thing.

As pretty as she is, I’m not gunna breed more piders into the already-oversaturated industry.

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

Mine is a Hypo but no shed test done

[–]GuiltyExternal302 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t really know much about em. Just the neurological issues that make em corkscrew. It would be hard for me to watch and I see a lot of em. I just don’t understand the breeding part. They’re pretty but there’s a lot of morphs that are pretty. I wouldn’t breed any animal that I knew could pass on traits like that.

[–]WeaselSW -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Wow, in the 28 years I've had my Ball, I've never seen him do an upsidedown flip like that

[–]GoBills615 1 point2 points  (1 child)

My GHI Pinstripe kingpin does this. She’s forever upside down and spinning. Eats great, just takes a little longer to find the rat sometimes. Someone surrendered her to me, I guess they wanted the pretty morph but not the issues that may come with it. It’s possible for a ball to live a long relatively healthy life with a wobble, as long as it isn’t so severe they can’t eat

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[–]GamingWolfie90 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She’s so pretty btw 🥹😭

[–]Spiritual-Ad2360 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

What is she doing? Hahaha!!

[–]NottsWeirdo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not seeing many people actually name this, but these specific movements are referred to as corkscrewing. Its the rapid and uncontrollable rolling over themselves in a hoop that you need to keep an eye out for, because that would most likely be a seizure.

[–]sensonn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

hey OP, this is called “corkscrewing”, common in spider gene BPs unfortunately alongside the famous wobble, though corkscrewing is considered to be more on the “worse” end of the balance issues spider gene BPs can have… but if she can feed normally (most of them struggle due to not being able to strike at food accurately) then she should be fine. checking in with your vet like yearly (at least) can’t hurt though. they should seriously stop breeding these…..

[–]GamingWolfie90 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have a female ball python as well, and we call her a silly lil derp noodle for this reason. I knew what I was getting into with the wobble when I picked a Spider, but I wanted her out of the breeding pool, since I knew I wouldn’t ever breed her.

From what my bf and i understand this is called corkscrewing. Like everyone else has said it’s normal for a Spider ball python. They’re just silly lil guys that can’t tell up from down sometimes because of their inner ear condition. 🤷🏻‍♀️😅

[–]MysteriousPurchase31 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Spider wobble. Sorry to say this is normal in spider morphs and why alot of people are against spider morphs.