Why the heck do people keep breeding spider morphs?

[Creepy Alien]

One of mine doesn't strike sometimes... she just goes up and starts eating the F/T rat . I would hate to have a Spider that was really bad off, but I agree and think that it's likely a very small percentage of them that are like that. They can be "special", but I haven't had any terrible experience with my three.

The only problem with Spider is the only ones you hear about are the really bad ones. I would be willing to be they make up a very small % of the population of spiders. Our Spider has no noticeable wobble at all. Yes she has missed a strike or two but so have all of our other snakes.

[Creepy Alien]

I would go for it if I were you. My oldest daughter loves Spinner Blasts and wants to breed for one with her big Pinstripe female. I find some of the most interesting BPs are the ones that don't quite fit the "mold". We have several Champagnes that have a severe attitude. My Sterling Champagne male always greets me with a deep distrusting HISS when I check on him. It just makes me smile as he doesn't usually follow up with much after that. His son is a jerk and will always strike at me (and only me). It's pretty funny .

Thanks guys! This originally came up when I posted a spinner blast on my facebook and called it my dream snake (they're so pretty!)... and then proceeded to get several messages saying I shouldn't because, well, spider genetics. So this actually makes me happy because if it is not as daunting as I've been told, that means I can consider a spinner blast, yes?

Great article, Eric, thanks.

[AKA Dave]

IMO, it's not so much accepting the good with the bad when dealing with Spiders. It's more dealing with the good and the odd. I currently have 4 snakes with the Spider gene, and each displays the wobble differently. While none are the classic train wreck, they do vary from a very subtle shake when feeding (what I call the meat shakes), to a semi-controlled loop when looking up. It's not really a detriment though. This girl for example is the worst out of all of them.



...But as the argument goes, they don't get to be 2100g plus if they don't thrive. She's a gorgeous, big healthy girl and a total sweetheart. Sure, Spiders and they're variants are not for everyone and it may take some getting used to, but there's no reason not to have them around. It'd be a real shame IMO if people stopped breeding them and they disappeared from collections and the market in general. They really do bring something special to the Ball Python world.

Dave

[OhhWatALoser]

It comes down to where you want to draw the line. Every single morph can be defined as a defect. I mean why would you breed albinos? They have defective melanin production. Ball pythons could all be defective compared to an Angolan python, so why breed ball pythons at all? It is all opinion based.

Personally for me, I draw the line at pain/distress. If the animal can thrive comfortably, I don't see the issue. If there was a similar morph that didn't have issues, I'm sure it would take the hobby by storm. However that isn't the case and that spider pattern is a very desirable trait.

[cchardwick]

I love the way the spider gene mixes in with the pied gene. Here's my three spider mixes, there's no doubt they make some of the most beautiful morphs. I do notice a head wobble in my spider pied mixes, but they still eat just great.

Here's my pastel spider pied:



And here's my spider pied 'white wedding':



And here's my pastel spider:

[PitOnTheProwl]

Many people don't understand or research the genes that wobble.
They are one of the most beautiful base morphs that also happens to mix great with almost everything you could pair it to.
I honestly cannot think of an ugly spider combo but I have not seen any 4 plus genes either.

The same question could go for people........

[Oxylepy]

Human beings are dumb animals and sex is one of the fundamental desires of many animals. That's why people keep reproducing without regards to appropriate breeding. And trust me, before my relationship many people thought I was terrible because I actually care about the genetics of my offspring and not propogating negative traits. For some reason to a lot of people that means you're shallow. But when you'll comfortably wait 3 years between partners because you have certain criteria and don't make other people feel lesser during that time when you turn them down, it isn't really in the same category as being shallow.

Same with snakes. I know the snakes I will be breeding are the ones with the best traits in my mind, and not ones which lack solid traits. Eugenics is pretty common when we work with animals.

But, at the end of it all, the traits we find enjoyable will continue to be bred for.

Again, to the OP: Go get the snake you want, the morph isn't really expensive, and there are definitely some out there looking for homes.

[cheosamad]

I love the way the spider gene mixes in with the pied gene. Here's my three spider mixes, there's no doubt they make some of the most beautiful morphs. I do notice a head wobble in my spider pied mixes, but they still eat just great.

Here's my pastel spider pied:



And here's my spider pied 'white wedding':



And here's my pastel spider:

Your bumblebee is so high yellow! I love it. Has it started to wash out at all or is it stil young? Such a looker

[Ashley96]

Okay random question after reading this thread. Do all spiders have the wobble? Would it be possible to breed it out?

[PitOnTheProwl]

Okay random question after reading this thread. Do all spiders have the wobble? Would it be possible to breed it out?

1-Yes ALL do wobble, the question is to what extent?
2-Havent yet..