Ball Python Genetic abnormality
Hey now. I just purchased my first ball python recently. it was from a reptile expo in Brentwood NY and it was a very nice looking killer bee/spider morph. I wish I had known about its "wobble" before hand as I would not have purchased it but...
In any case I am now an owner of a very nice yellow and black mouse terminator. He has a ravenous appetite and will stay in his hide for a few days before coming out but when he does he starts to freak out and corkscrew and "stand up" straight to touch the top of his tank then lean his head backwards until it touches the floor and will stay in that position for a minute or two then he will just lay down for a breather and start all over again and this will go on for hours until he tires out and goes back to his hide for 18 hours only to repeat his behavior again the next night. Is this condition severe enough for the snake to cause itself serious injury or possibly accidental death, should I have to consider taking it to the vet and have it put down? I am considering getting a second snake, maybe a Super Pastel or Banana but am wary because I don't know if either of these two species have its own type of genetic abnormalities also? The vendor who sold me the killer bee said that its around 7-8 months old and I have it in an exo terra medium terrarium I think its dimensions are 18"'x18"x12" and am getting ready to move it into a 20 gallon long tank this weekend. Will this glass tank be sufficiently strong enough to handle his wobble once it gets older and heavier or should I think about getting an acrylic tank later to handle its stronger vibrations?
Re: Ball Python Genetic abnormality
Do not let the wobble discourage you from the spider gene. It does not hinder the snake from eating, breeding or living a normal life. If anything I think spiders have the best personalities when it comes to bps.
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Re: Ball Python Genetic abnormality
It sounds like he's moving fairly slowly, not slamming around with a lot of force? If so, I wouldn't worry about the tank. But you might look at some threads in the BP Husbandry section and consider a PVC cage or plastic tub, if you haven't already bought the tank.
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Re: Ball Python Genetic abnormality
PS: All of our snakes (colubrids, boas, carpet pythons, and non-spider BPs) will sometimes do the standing/going up the wall thing, and even start going back along the ceiling until they flop or abort. It's like they forget about that pesky gravity thing. [emoji4]
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Re: Ball Python Genetic abnormality
Best info I have found is here. http://www.owalreptiles.com/issues.php
No need to put the animal down. If he is comfortable in his surroundings eventually his symptoms will reduce. I was very bothered by them in the beginning when I acquired one by accident. He is a super mojave so the guy that i got him from did not realize he was spider. I now have another spider. Both had significant wobbles in the beginning. They are some of the best "pets" in my collection. I have been studying them pretty intently and gathering data. I have some suspicions about some things but I am going to wait until I have a larger group to make any conclusions.