Shayna - Our Albino Spider Ball

Shayna...she is just simply beautiful.


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Shayna continues to thrive in her "new" setup and has yet to refuse a rat this fall. I imagine she will soon enough, and is spending more time chilling and less time looking for food now. We will see.

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Shayna has not eaten since 11/22/20. She's looking good, but hasn't pooped in that time either. She refused a rat tonight.

Neither are uncommon for her in the winter and during fast. She's mostly staying on the cool side but I occasionally see her closer to the middle of the tank. No need for the hot side since she's not digesting.

She's been incredibly inactive as well, which again, is usual for her.

I take her out and/or physically check her once a week to make sure she's okay. I usually do this when I change her water.

She gets handled more when she's eating. When she's brumating, she mostly wants to be left alone. Not that she's defensive or anything, I just assume barely moving means she doesn't really want to "play" much.

I am not worried at all. She usually fasts for 4-5 months and starts eating around March again. I try to update when she fasts though because other BP owners might get some relief from knowing Shayna does the same thing :).

Well, I am not going to celebrate yet, but it looks like Shayna broke her fast last night! I am a little apprehensive because occasionally, she will pull the rat into her hide and not eat it. I will check in the morning.

However, shed seemed interested in the small F/T rat when I offered, but did not strike. She had her head out of her hide and was eyeing it, but didn't commit. That was around 9:30PM. I left it in the tank overnight, and just checked now (4:30AM - long story) and it is gone, or at least out of sight.

I am about 99% sure she took it and ate it.

I'll report back if shed did not take it, otherwise, looks like she is at least starting to end her fast. There are years when she has a few "false starts" and takes a rat here and there (skips a few feedings) before really getting going in the late spring and summer.

Just so everyone knows, she last ate on 11/22/20, or a little over 4 months ago. She seems fine, was very inactive over the winter, and I only handled her 1X a week or so and briefly so she could conserve energy and brumate. At her size and age, the leaving her alone part is a courtesy, not a necessity, but it is something encourage other BP owners to do. If your BP is in a fast (especially a long one) and is mostly inactive (in the winter), they are brumating/resting and don't need to be bothered too much. Frankly, I take her out 1X a week for about 5 minutes just to check her over and make sure she is healthy, change her water, and call it a day. In the spring, summer, and fall, we do a lot more bonding when she is eating regularly.

Well hopefully she's broken her winter fast dave

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Here’s to her breaking her fast.


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Look who had her first spring shed! Shayna is looking great! Dry, she's 1,910G (she had one small rat 3 weeks ago and that's all she's had since 11-22-20), which is only down 50G from her peak of 1,960G last year. Not too bad. Still as sweet as ever.

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She's looking great dave, I love her iridescent spider markings, so cool

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

She's looking great dave, I love her iridescent spider markings, so cool

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Thank you Rich!

Yeah, she's pretty cool. Turns 9 this year and still has that amazing "glow" to her, especially in her "spider" markings.

Between the cross with the albino, she shows no noticeable neurological issues with the spider gene as well. I lucked out as I didn't know about the wobble issues when I got her.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dakski

Thank you Rich!

Yeah, she's pretty cool. Turns 9 this year and still has that amazing "glow" to her, especially in her "spider" markings.

Between the cross with the albino, she shows no noticeable neurological issues with the spider gene as well. I lucked out as I didn't know about the wobble issues when I got her.

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She's beautiful, amazing snake. Just so you know most spiders don't show a noticeable wobble unless stressed or excited.