WhatMorph
Species / Ball python / Spider

Spider

incomplete dominantSpider complexhealth issue reportedtext read from the page's sources

First produced: NERD (Kevin McCurley), 1999, from an African import

Complex: Spider. Complex membership is as reported by breeders and community lists; most memberships have not been proven in a lab.

How to recognise it

HeadLight head with bold reduced markings and a darker spot on the crown; head is paler and busier than a normal's solid dark cap.
PatternBlack pattern cut down to thin web-like lines; alien heads enlarged, golden and largely empty inside. Tail pattern usually runs unbroken across from side to side.
ColourGold to tan ground colour with thin black webbing; high-white animals show white pushing up the lower sides with strong contrast at the edge.
BellyFaded or patchy continuation of the side pattern, spotting varies by animal.
EyesNot yet verified against a source.
With ageNot yet verified against a source.

Rows marked "not yet verified" are withheld until they can be cited. Inheritance is the trade's usage unless a source below states it.

Visible in a single copy?

Visible in single copy (this is the heterozygous form); no hidden carriers.

Super form (two copies)

Super Spider
Not yet verified against a source.

Easily confused with

Hidden Gene Woma
HGW has an almost solid chocolate-brown head and keyhole alien heads; Spider head is light.
Pinstripe
Pinstripe has a clean dorsal stripe with thin rib lines and a normal dark head and no wobble; Spider has no clean dorsal stripe and a light head.

Photos

Ball python identified by the photographer as Spider
Identified as Spider by the photographer; not verified by us.
Photo: WingedWolfPsion, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In combination with other genes

Ball python identified by the photographer as Citrus Bumblebee combo (Citrus Pastel + Spider)
Identified as Citrus Bumblebee combo (Citrus Pastel + Spider) by the photographer; not verified by us.
Photo: Kaorte, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

These animals carry several genes at once. The caption lists everything the animal is said to be; none of them shows this gene on its own.

Health and welfare

Reported issue. Evidence for the main finding: proven. Other points in this paragraph are breeder reports unless a source below says otherwise.
Wobble (head tremor, tilt, loss of coordination), ranging from barely visible to severe; worse when feeding, excited or stressed. Inner-ear (sacculus and semicircular canal) malformations shown by microCT.

DNA test

A test is listed for Rare Genetics Inc: Spider (list read 2026-11-13 on MorphMarket's page for that lab). All listed tests

Sources for this page