I would much rather people stop describing the spider gene as a defect. Look through this forum and you will find a wide range of posts about how well spider ball pythons are as eaters and how well they thrive. The "defect" should not be labelled that because it causes zero health concerns with the snake. One could go so far as to categorize albinism in ball pythons as a defect and health wise could be assumed to be detrimental to the longevity of the snake simply going off of documentation of consequences of albinism. My point is just because there is a "condition" in a snake, that is no right to call it a defect or consider it unfit for ownership or breeding. Albino snakes for example live long and healthy lives in captivity, just like spider ball pythons.