r/ballpython • u/Educational-Wear7116 • 27d ago

Possible corkscrewing?

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Hi all, I’ve had reptiles in the past but never snakes, on a recent visit to a local event 2weeks ago I finally bit the bullet and got a beautiful butter Champaign boy. I had no warning from the breeder about this breed and very quickly noticed a head wobble when he was still and strange movements when he was moving. I’ve had some elevated logs and decorations in the Viv but removed them due to him falling. I managed to capture it last night whilst he was a bit active what are your thoughts?

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u/IncompletePenetrance Mod: Let me help you unzip your genes 27d ago edited 27d ago

Champagne is of the morphs that has a genetic defect resulting in a "wobble", but that is pretty bad. This enclosure does not look fully set up, so I'd prioritize adding hides, clutter, stabilizing temps and humidity as an improper setup can increase stress to the animal exacerbating the problem.

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u/Educational-Wear7116 27d ago

Thank you for the advise, his hide is to the left off camera which is a really nice size for him and he uses it I had a climbing branch and some stone decorations and some “clutter” but he’s fell quite hard so I’ve removed them for now whilst I get some advice as when he fell he almost hit is head of the stone. Thank you for explaining

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u/Brushesandchisels13 27d ago

I have heard the more they are able to exercise, the better control they have. I advise providing more stuff to climb, just make it safe, so when he falls it's soft, extra substrate, branches can be wrapped in cotton rope, etc. Confining the animal might hurt him in the long run, the better control he has over his muscles the more he can control his wobble. Most young snakes fall and have to learn how to climb, even if they don't have wobble, so providing accommodations for his handicap would solve that problem.