So sad!

So little bit of a rant I’ve had problems with my python eating for a while now but tonight they showed massive interest and took it after severely struggling flipping over and not able to focus on the rat properly I went back and not eaten so I’ve just reheated head and tryed again moving some things of enclosure to help again struck missed but then struck and wrapped checking again in a hour but I am furious the breeder didn’t disclose any head wobble to me at all i havnt really noticed anything severe until tonight I suspected a slight wobble but nothing to this extreme I’m so angry and also extremely sad for my snake I feel awful does anyone have any advice at all how I can help them with this wobble


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So what kind of morph are we talking about here?

Sold to me as pastel yb https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...0f35abb62a.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is my first ball python I had done research and saw videos about spider gene and didn’t want to get a spider morph because if the head wobble but I thought this snake was only pastel yb


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He looks like an awesome pastel to me! Could it be you might think it’s a wobble. I’ve had some bp’s in the past that just had intense strike poses. They would even twitch a bit. I would say a wobble is very noticeable. In spider balls they can be upside down and act as if they are upright. I mean not all spiders but it’s a common trait. Does your pastel hang upside down or does he upright him self when you handle him?

Thankyou so I havnt got round to properly handling yet as I’ve had problems with them eating when exploring the enclosure they do have a slight wobble in their head nothing major it wasn’t until tonight they struck flipped mouth open but still trying to get rat second time their head flipped and hit their hide they are now struggling to actually eat the rat I’ve had to take things out of their enclosure to give them room to eat


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Honestly, I’m a messy eater myself lol.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bluebell_1990

This is my first ball python I had done research and saw videos about spider gene and didn’t want to get a spider morph because if the head wobble but I thought this snake was only pastel yb


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

While head wobble can be genetic (certain morphs incl. spider are known for it) it can also be a sign of illness; far better if it IS due to genetics. It would be nice (very professional) if all sellers disclosed such issues, you should always thoroughly research any morphs you're buying to make sure- again, I HOPE this is genetic, & NOT illness.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KingPythons

Honestly, I’m a messy eater myself lol.

---

I think we need to see some video-:rofl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bluebell_1990

Thankyou so I havnt got round to properly handling yet as I’ve had problems with them eating when exploring the enclosure they do have a slight wobble in their head nothing major it wasn’t until tonight they struck flipped mouth open but still trying to get rat second time their head flipped and hit their hide they are now struggling to actually eat the rat I’ve had to take things out of their enclosure to give them room to eat


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Wrestling with food will always bring out the worst if there's a wobble. Making space for them, & helping where you can is about all you can do. Did he actually get it down?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Wrestling with food will always bring out the worst if there's a wobble. Making space for them, & helping where you can is about all you can do. Did he actually get it down?

---

They eventually managed to get it down after I removed things from enclosure and trying to eat it upside down I’m leaving them for abit to settle then going to put stuff I’m hoping it’s just a very very messy feeding response and no problems I’m going to see what the next feed is like and see


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't see anything looking like spider gene, so yeah I would be more concerned about other factors as Bogertophis had mentioned.

I've had a few non wobblers get themselves confused on a strike if they missed. And some slow eaters or even weirder... When they try to eat the side of the rodent. =_=;

Without seeing the snake in person, I can't give any advice really about possible wobble. I have seen it been over exaggerated and understated before depending on situations.

I have to see him eat upside ! That’s crazy

The all round health seems fine we’ll as far as I can see weight is good normal behaviour well normal for them I’m just going to see on next feed what they are like and if they take it I might just have a snake who only likes to eat once a month but when they want to eat gets a little too excited am hoping that’s the case as this is the first time they have done this


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have had a few snakes that would "wobble" just a little bit right before striking when excited about food. It was pretty minor, but noticeable enough that I paid extra attention to them from then on. That's the only time they ever did it, no spider genes, and no other issues. So could just be excitement/anticipation/prepping to strike.

I have also seen too high of heat cause neurological issues (even when it's not hot enough to burn but hot enough to stress the animal). Check your temperatures with a heat gun (for best accuracy) and make sure all areas of the enclosures are proper temps.

I mean a while back, over at VPI they use to feed their ball pythons once a month. I don’t know if they still do but it’s not uncommon. Some breeders prefer to feed once a month. They say bp’s in the wild eat once a month if lucky.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mlededee

I have had a few snakes that would "wobble" just a little bit right before striking when excited about food. It was pretty minor, but noticeable enough that I paid extra attention to them from then on. That's the only time they ever did it, no spider genes, and no other issues. So could just be excitement/anticipation/prepping to strike.

I have also seen too high of heat cause neurological issues (even when it's not hot enough to burn but hot enough to stress the animal). Check your temperatures with a heat gun (for best accuracy) and make sure all areas of the enclosures are proper temps.

---

I’m always checking temps with hun daily to make sure humidity is great too I’m hoping it’s just excitement because to be honest it has been a month since they last ate(I’ve been trying every week) this time I’m waiting ten days then if they refuse try again in another ten


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KingPythons

I mean a while back, over at VPI they use to feed their ball pythons once a month. I don’t know if they still do but it’s not uncommon. Some breeders prefer to feed once a month. They say bp’s in the wild eat once a month if lucky.

---

I’ve heard and been told by a few people their snakes only eat once a month too so it could just be them wanting food once a month which is fine but I’m going to try after ten days and see then if not wait another ten


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bluebell_1990

I’ve heard and been told by a few people their snakes only eat once a month too so it could just be them wanting food once a month which is fine but I’m going to try after ten days and see then if not wait another ten


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Every ten to 14 days works great with my Royals ( using the hairdryer method of course )
:)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I’m definitely going to try every ten to 14


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bluebell_1990

I’m definitely going to try every ten to 14


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Plus the hairdryer method ;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Your snake does not have the genes associated with wobble. It doesn't sound like they are actually showing the signs of a wobble episode.

I'm not sure what the struggle to eat looked like - some snakes get very excited and flop around a little; some get excited but are very specific about the position they want the food in and they will mess around and reposition a lot; some get excited and swallow in award ways which makes the whole process really awkward. They also don't necessarily swallow a meal quickly.

I wonder if the rodent was a bit too large?

Caitlin is spot-on about the diversity of eating habits shown by snakes when tackling prey. One of mine (a 4 year old rat snake) is the weirdest one I've ever seen: she's been fed nothing but pre-killed rodents, but she violently grabs them & rolls many times all around her tank with it before slowing down to eat. Her whole body is involved, but not really constricting the prey so much- instead she loosely coils her whole body & rolls around on her coils while holding the mouse- it's pretty hilarious, actually. In doing so, she travels quite a bit, over anything in her path. I've always wondered if she gets bruised under her scales & is sore the next day? She's finally learning to accept prey from my tongs with less drama, but sometimes she still reverts to rolling them to death. I have to wonder if she read & misunderstood the old legend about "hoop snakes"-:rofl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Caitlin

Your snake does not have the genes associated with wobble. It doesn't sound like they are actually showing the signs of a wobble episode.

I'm not sure what the struggle to eat looked like - some snakes get very excited and flop around a little; some get excited but are very specific about the position they want the food in and they will mess around and reposition a lot; some get excited and swallow in award ways which makes the whole process really awkward. They also don't necessarily swallow a meal quickly.

I wonder if the rodent was a bit too large?

---

So they struck missed struck end up upside down mouth gaping open still trying to get the rodent hit their head on their hide then eventually did the prey size is actually slightly smaller than biggest part of the body when actually swallowing it they were upside down I’m going to see what they are like next feed


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk