Weird/scary behavior in my 1 year old spider morph

My python, Legolas, skipped his last meal. He has been fully soaking himself all week in his water bowl. I take him out, he goes right back in, he even popped in there and continued to soak in it. Today I came he and thought he was dead. He was laying in the water with his head upside down resting on his body, chin up. Then he moved when he saw me. He goes completely under water sometimes, which I think is strange. If I flip him upside down, he flips over fine. He doesn't look like he's ready to shed. Now he's skittering around on me acting normal. Wtf?

Did you check for mites?

I've got a spider mojave that I've caught once or twice completely submerged in water. Yes it scared the heck out of me. I've heard a story before of spider gene ball pythons drowning in their water bowls. Mine soaks all the time. I'm glad his bowl to just about too small to completely ball up inside it. Check for mites and be wary.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

ICheck for mites and be wary.

---

Sounds like mites to me. Check for black spots in the water and in the python's nose, mouth, and under the scales on his chin and belly

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neotetro

Sounds like mites to me. Check for black spots in the water and in the python's nose, mouth, and under the scales on his chin and belly

---

I thought that at first because of the soaking so I've looked and haven't seen any but checked mostly on his belly. I will check harder near his face. But would that explain the head flipped over thing? Weird.

My Fire Spider flips her head all the time. She does not do the soaking thing though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LoveMySpiderMorph

I thought that at first because of the soaking so I've looked and haven't seen any but checked mostly on his belly. I will check harder near his face. But would that explain the head flipped over thing? Weird.

---

Definitely no mites.

Does she ever just lay there with her head limp on here body (upside down) ?? That freaked me out because he looked dead!! Otherwise he acts normal when I take him out.

What size and kind of hides are you using? If they aren't secure, he may just be using his water bowl instead. Kind of a "if I can't see you, you can't see me" thing. :rolleye2:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

I've got a spider mojave that I've caught once or twice completely submerged in water. Yes it scared the heck out of me. I've heard a story before of spider gene ball pythons drowning in their water bowls. Mine soaks all the time. I'm glad his bowl to just about too small to completely ball up inside it. Check for mites and be wary.

---

Yeah, our spider that we received recently as part of a debt just died on friday. She came in terrible condition and she was corkscrewing like mad. We found her upside down head in the water bowl. I'm getting her necropsied by Dr. Scott Stahl to see if it was drowning. /sigh

Spiders can be goofy and I have caught mine laying in strange positions many times.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OctagonGecko729

Yeah, our spider that we received recently as part of a debt just died on friday. She came in terrible condition and she was corkscrewing like mad. We found her upside down head in the water bowl. I'm getting her necropsied by Dr. Scott Stahl to see if it was drowning. /sigh

---

I dont know where you are from, but is that Stahl Vet in Vienna VA by any chance? If so they are a fantastic exotic vet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sissysnakes

I dont know where you are from, but is that Stahl Vet in Vienna VA by any chance? If so they are a fantastic exotic vet.

---

Sure is.

my/our bee ( we got for free due to her jaw issue ( breeder friend was not willing to keep fighting with her to get her eating ) I have found her completely on her back ( though was dead) 3 times down almost like she a dog sleeping on her back waiting for a belly rub. she has been slowly putting on weight but we had to keep her at hopper mice cause anything larger she has issues working it down on her own. But we are hoping that as she gains weight that will change. I trying to find a pinkie rats to give a try for her in the next week or so.

Just wanted to say that I got the necropsy results back from Dr. Stahl and the spider gene was not to blame. The she was actually a he and it did not drown. It had multiple organs failing from the time we got him. My theory now as to why the animal had such bad corkscrewing behavior is because of its stressfull state.