diff --git a/scripts/microbe_stage/configs.as b/scripts/microbe_stage/configs.as
index 3930895c47a..6ec8c24bf70 100644
--- a/scripts/microbe_stage/configs.as
+++ b/scripts/microbe_stage/configs.as
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ const auto FLAGELLA_BASE_FORCE = 0.7f;
 const auto CELL_BASE_THRUST = 1.6f;
 
 // is set by this and modified by applyCellMovement like the player later
-const auto AI_BASE_MOVEMENT = 1.6f;
+const auto AI_BASE_MOVEMENT = 1.0f;
 const auto AI_FOCUSED_MOVEMENT = 1.0f;
 
 //! The drag force is calculated by taking the current velocity and multiplying it by this.
diff --git a/scripts/microbe_stage/microbe_operations.as b/scripts/microbe_stage/microbe_operations.as
index 2d90f864679..eb69cdac8b1 100644
--- a/scripts/microbe_stage/microbe_operations.as
+++ b/scripts/microbe_stage/microbe_operations.as
@@ -919,11 +919,6 @@ ObjectID spawnMicrobe(CellStageWorld@ world, Float3 pos, const string &in specie
     auto speciesEntity = findSpeciesEntityByName(world, speciesName);
     auto species = world.GetComponent_SpeciesComponent(speciesEntity);
 
-    if (species.isBacteria)
-    {
-        physics.Body.SetMass(physics.Body.Mass * 10);
-    }
-
     physics.JumpTo(microbePos);
 
     // Try setting the position immediately as well (as otherwise it
diff --git a/scripts/microbe_stage/species_system.as b/scripts/microbe_stage/species_system.as
index b99c85d0a22..6eb50d18349 100644
--- a/scripts/microbe_stage/species_system.as
+++ b/scripts/microbe_stage/species_system.as
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ class Species{
                 parent.colour.W + randomMutationColourChannel());
         }
 
-        this.stringCode = mutateMicrobe(parent.stringCode,false);
+        this.stringCode = mutateMicrobe(parent.stringCode,isBacteria);
 
 
         generateMembranes(parent);