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Does this count as spider headwobble?

HogBilly Feb 27, 2009 09:32 PM

Just got my first ball, a spider girl, in the mail this morning from NERD. Out of the box and after a long post-trip sleep I handled her, and now and then she'll flop her head backwards or even just be content with perching with her head upside-down.
For the flopping, it's like she'll look up, but then her head falls backwards/upside-down and she takes a second of flipping her head to right it again. It's not too big of a deal, but once or twice it's seemed to cause her great confusion and is kinda visually upsetting/disconcerting to watch my new pet flop her head around for a few seconds.

This isn't anything serious, is it? Standard baby spider retardation, or something?
Image

Replies (19)

toshamc Feb 27, 2009 09:37 PM

That would be the wobble -- stress can tend to exasperate it -- let her settle in for a while (no handling) and it may go away or become less noticeable.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
Toshas Blog

HogBilly Feb 27, 2009 10:02 PM

Thanks for letting me know! And yeah, gonna let her just chill for a while in her tank, but was coerced by the internet to pull her out for a few quick photos.
Image

gixxerrobballs Feb 27, 2009 11:34 PM

that's one reason why i can't do the spider's don't get me wrong i love spiders and their combo's but can't stand to see the wobble.....

jsschrei Feb 28, 2009 11:39 AM

She is a pretty girl! Nice photos. I hope you find that the wobble is less noticable as time passes and she adjusts to her new surroundings. I Have a little spider girl that has the slightest wobble. She just seems to lead her head back then right herself occasionally. It was worse when I first got her and she was really young. She's about 3 months older now and I rarely see her do it.
Best wishes.
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Cheers,
Jessica
10.15 Ball Pythons; 8.9 Corn Snakes; 0.0.1 Green Tree Python
2.2 Jungle Carpet Pythons
1.0 Cay Caulker
1.0 Nic, 0.1 Tpos Nic
1.0 Hypo Het Albino BCI, 0.1 Albino BCI
0.0.1 BCC (almost 20 yrs old)
3.0 Crazy Dogs and 2.0 cats
Some Tropical Fish
...........and growing!

Ghireptiles Feb 28, 2009 12:21 PM

My spider takes my credit card out of my wallet while I am sleeping and orders rodents online!
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Matt Lerer
Ghi Reptiles

rabernet Feb 28, 2009 09:12 PM

Here's what I posted recently on another forum and a discussion about the spider wobble/spin. Next to the last paragraph, I did say that it can be disconcerting the first time you see it, even though most are aware of it:

This is strictly my opinion - I personally do not believe that the spider wobble is neurological, but rather an equilibrium problem with the spiders. I have four spiders, every one of them has a wobble.

If you pulled open their tubs, took them out, handled them, let them crawl around, you'd say that they didn't have the spider spin.

But sit quietly in front of their tubs at night when they are exploring their tubs, and they move differently than the rest of my collection. When they get to the top of the tub, they will sometimes twist over backwards, wobble, etc.

Since all spiders are descendants of one animal, and the wobble is known to be associated with the gene, I do not believe that it can be bred out - and that it's tied to the spider allele (sp?).

Again - this is only my opinion - but I'd be willing to bet if owners who swear that they have non-wobblers observed their animal's movements at night, they would see that they behave differently from their other ball pythons.

I don't personally believe it to be a bad thing. All four of mine are eating and nailing their food (it doesn't inhibit their ability to effectively dispatch their prey), growing and shedding. I think that it adds to their quirky personalities and I don't mind it.

I will say that to a first time spider owner, it can be a bit disconcerting, even if you know it's a trait of the spider - it was to me.

I think it's time to stop being fearful of the "dreaded wobble" and instead accept that it's just part of the spider charm.

HogBilly Feb 28, 2009 09:23 PM

A good little writeup! I was having similar thoughts that it was equilibrium issues and less neuro.

I've kept a close eye on my new girl, and her wobble seems to have toned down significantly from the 'attacks' she was having last night. It had been very severe, as bad if not worse than this little fellow on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlX58vxt0AU

After being shocked by seeing this and assuming it's a neurological problem, I can see why people would 'fear' the spider gene. It's wrong to make an animal suffer just because it looks prettier.

The 'everyday wobble' isn't nearly so bad, though. The trick is just to make sure they're unstressed at all times.

gixxerrobballs Mar 01, 2009 12:55 AM

that video....man come on that's crazy i can't watch my snakes doing that.....

boredfoot Mar 01, 2009 07:15 AM

I agree with you. That would be hard to take without wondering if the snake is suffering somehow. I suppose you get used to seeing it, but I'd rather not.

HogBilly Mar 01, 2009 07:53 AM

If you read the description, the snake returned to normal and mine is similarly showing a vast improvement. You don't have to see it if you don't stress out the animal.

gixxerrobballs Mar 01, 2009 05:59 PM

just knowing it's possiably for all spiders to do that is enough to keep me away from spiders...

HogBilly Mar 02, 2009 09:20 AM

Okay, I think we get it that you and some other people don't intend to ever buy spiders. To each your own, but don't clog my thread with your non-debate disapproval?

illbeyoursoldier Mar 02, 2009 09:32 PM

WOW, I have NEVER seen a Spider Wobble that bad ever.

Do not judge all spiders based on this video. Trust me, all spiders are not that bad, never have I seen a wobble that severe.
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

jayefbe Mar 02, 2009 05:38 PM

If the wobble problem is mainly an equilibrium issue (which I do agree with) it's still neurological. An equilibrium issue would still be a problem with the central nervous system.

rabernet Mar 02, 2009 07:14 PM

Would it? I'm not sure - and not arguing that it isn't. I know that in mammals and humans, inner ear problems can cause equilibrium problems.

Do snakes have anything anatomically similar to an inner ear that might be responsible for equilibrium?

HogBilly Mar 02, 2009 09:39 PM

I think if it were so easy to pinpoint, it would've been done. Unless I'm wrong, nobody's figured out the real culprit behind wobbling yet.

(and update on Fleur, she's doing MUCH better now. She still corkscrews now and then, but it seems to be a problem that she loses balance after she's looked up past a certain angle)
Image

Shadow4108 Mar 03, 2009 06:19 PM

My spider has a little bit of a wobble sometimes, but she doesnt ever have a problem striking at me..LOL
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

2.0 chocolate lab (Harley) and basset (Capone)
0.1 leopard gecko (Nacho)
1.0 Normal ball python (Arwen)
1.0 pastel ball python (Merlin)
0.1 Spider ball python (Rogue)
1.4 breeder rats

thunderpaws Mar 01, 2009 06:31 PM

Hi,

I have a female spider and she head wobbles and cork screws. I think your snake cork screws more than a head wobble but probably does both. This same snake eats 2 weaned rats a week and has put on 400 grams of weight in the last 5 months. She is always out and very friendly. She never misses a rat and she is my favorite snake by far in my rack. I recently bought a spinner and I am going to be breeding albino spiders with her. I am going to make spiders the main breeding snake of my ball breeding. Again, I think spiders are the most interesting ball out there today for bang for the buck.

Embrase the wobble and screw,
I did and love it.

Bill

chongorojo Mar 07, 2009 06:26 PM

Does any one have more or less wobble with the more diverse genetic combos. My buddys killer bee has no wobble, so I guess my question is does any one have a lesser bee or bumble bee or any combo spider with wobble???

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1.0 het pied
1.0 sunrise (unproven ball python morph)
1.0 pastel
1.0 nerd hypo
1.0 spider Het hypo
0.5 het nerd hypo
0.3 poss het nerd hypo
0.1 poss Het albino
0.1 het pied
0.5 Breeder normals
0.1 black pastel (unproven)
0.1 reduced pattern (unproven)
0.1 mojave (best looking one ever! thanks Jeff Luman)
0.1 pastel Het ghost
0.1 red tail boa 8ft!
1.0 albino Het snow corn
0.1 albino Het snow corn (laying in 7 days)
0.1 snow corn
1.0 Schniders skink
I am not gonna count all those rats . . .
2.2 felines aka boa food ;o

Brian H
Brianhettinger@hotmail.com

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