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How Big Does a Ball Python Snake Get?

The African Ball python (Royal python in the UK) is one of the smaller constrictors kept as a household pet. It gets its name from a habit of wadding itself into a bunch with the head in the middle when nervous. Average size is feet three to over five feet in length, and females get bigger than males. The girth depends largely on how much it eats -- snakes can get fat, too!

Growth Rate
- A newly-hatched Ball python is 10 to 14 inches long. Expect it to grow about a foot a year for the first three years.
Housing
- A Ball python needs an enclosure at least half the length of its body, so a four-foot snake would be comfortable in something 36-by-18-by16 inches or larger, roughly the size of a 40-gallon aquarium.
Comparing Constrictors
- A full-grown Ball python is much smaller than other popular pet constrictors such as the Burmese python (23 feet) and the red tail boa (7 to 8 feet). It is a comfortable size for a pet, neither too long nor too heavy to be handled easily.

Animals & Science