Posted by:
Jeremy Stone
at Thu Dec 9 22:55:39 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Jeremy Stone ]
Yes, some spiders do seem to have a neurolgical "twitch". Last year when I produced my first, I had 10 babies. About 2 weeks after they were born, 2 of them were doing a Backward Loop. I was FREAKED out. I thought it was a BIG problem. They weren't that bad, but they just seemed a little "Quirky" and they settled down. It seemed they did it more when they were excited. I talked to a few other breeders and they told me they had the same thing in some of theirs, so I didn't worry about it.
This 04 year I was able to produce a Very good number of spiders. I noticed this in about every 4th spider. Some had the "twitch" a little, and I had one that completely had almost no control in his neck. I thought for sure he woudln't do well. However, he has been the Best feeder of them all. We all know that Spiders are VERY hardy and agressive eaters, but it seems these ones with the "twitch" are even better feeders. Here is the point. After about 500 grams they all totally grow out of it. Even the animal I mention that flipped his head from side to side now almost has NO twitch at all. He is 450 grams!!! I noticed that the 2 spiders I had last year stopped doing this "Twitch" after 500 grams. So, for whatever reason, there are some that have this little "Twitch".
I believe it is nothing to be scared of, and the animals turn out completley fine. You can have a Spider adult pass this one even if he didn't have the twitch which was the case with me and my original male. HE never had this twitch yet some of his babies did, and some of their babies did too. After about 500 grams they don't exhibit this other then the fact that they look to the side a little. I have also noticed that the "NORMALS" that don't get the Spider gene in the clutches don't have this twitch, so it is definatley a Spider gene thing.
Even with the "twitching" the Spiders seem to be the Hardiest and fastest growing of all My ball pythons. The Spider Gene is Very strong. I think it is kindof cute now, and it ads a little personality to them. If you get a Spider that shows this, don't worry. Feed it and you won't see it much longer. I have noticed that ALL of my animals do this like the other person mentioned in the thread. I see it in about one in 4 to 5 spiders. Hope this helps. I LOVE the Spider. There are soo many variations in the looks, and that makes them a very fun snake to keep and breed. The Spider is a MUST have in my opinion. It is a VERY Solid snake. My 2 Cents. Jeremy Stone
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RE: Spider Ball Bahavior - Jeremy Stone, Thu Dec 9 22:55:39 2004