How big do ball pythons get when they are fully grown? This is one of the most frequently asked questions among those who are considering a ball python as a pet. And with good reason. If youre going to keep one of these snakes in your home, you need to know how big they get and how much space they require. How Big Do Male and Female Ball Pythons Get? Compared to their much larger cousins, ball pythons dont get very big at all. And that suits a lot of keepers just fine. At a glance: Females are generally larger than males. Females typically reach an average adult length of around 4 to 4.5 feet (122 137 centimeters). Males, on the other hand, typically reach an average adult length of around 3 to 3.5 feet (90107 centimeters). But they can be bigger. Specimens as long as 6 feet have been recorded, but those are rare. So the average length of a ball python (regardless of sex) is around 4 feet. As for the average weight , these snakes tend to weigh somewhere between 3 and 5 pounds when fully grown. So we are not talking about a massive snake by any means. The ball python shown in the photo above is typical size for a juvenile (that hasnt yet reached its full adult size). They can get bigger than that when they do reach full size. The photo above also shows where these snakes get their name. Theyre commonly referred to as ball pythons due to their habit of curling up into a ball, especially when they feel threatened or exposed. Photo: A male specimen of average size The photo shown at right is one of my male ball pythons. He was about two-and-a-half years old when that photo was taken, which means he had reached his adult size. Hes a little on the small side for a male, because he was small at birth. Still, this photo shows what you can expect if you plan to keep one of these snakes. The lengthwise growth of a snake will usually slow down, and eventually stop, once it reaches the adult stage (or sexual maturity). Then can continue to grow thicker after that point but they typically stop growing longer. Ball pythons tend to reach that stage of their lives at around 2 to 3 years old , though they can actually live to be 30 or 40! Their Smaller Size Makes Them a Popular Pet Some people hear the word python and think of a massive snake big enough to constrict, and possibly even kill, a human. And there definitely are snakes of that size. But the ball python is not one of them. Thats one of the reasons why these snakes are so popular as pets. They do not get as big as their more massive relatives (like the Burmese, rock and reticulated pythons). Because of their moderate size, an adult ball python can be housed in a cage or habitat thats around three feet in length. That kind of enclosure could easily fit into an average-sized bedroom, living room, office, etc. Some people keep their snakes in smaller cages, but thats not ideal. In my opinion, these snakes should be given sufficient space to move around and stretch out. I recommend giving your ball python an enclosure thats somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 feet long x 1 foot deep. The height of the enclosure is less important, because this species is mostly terrestrial and doesnt spend a lot of time climbing. At a minimum, I would recommend a cage height of 1 foot (12 inches). A bit taller would be even better. But were getting off track here. To revisit the question at hand: How big do ball pythons get when they are full grown? These snakes typically reach an average adult length of around 4 feet. But they can be bigger than that, in some cases. Some of the largest specimens can reach 6 feet in length, but those are rare. On average, female ball pythons tend to be longer and thicker than males when they reach maturity. Much Easier to Handle Than Their Bigger Cousins The size of these snakes, along with their generally calm demeanor, makes them easy to handle. They dont get very big, compared to their larger cousins. Other snakes in the Pythonidae family can become enormous. The reticulated python of Asia, for example, can grow longer than 20 feet and weigh well over 100 pounds when fully grown. Handling one of the truly big pythons is something thats best left to professionals and veteran snake keepers. These are potentially dangerous animals due to their sheer size and their ability to constrict a human. But the ball python doesnt get nearly that big. Thats what makes it one of the most commonly kept snakes in captivity. An adult human could hold an adult ball python in one hand (though its better to use both hands). Download the Ball Python Guide for More Information If youre wondering how big ball pythons get because you plan to keep one, I strongly encourage you to download my care guide. Its a PDF e-book that you can download instantly. My e-book contains more than 100 pages of advice on all aspects of snake care (housing, heating, feeding and handling). You can learn more or download a copy by using the link below.