Should I get female or male?

[Wiggy]

So I'm about ready to start looking for a ball python. The enclosure I had made is 24x24, and it should be arriving in the next few days. Hoping to have a snake here sometime in mid-March (fingers crossed).

I was noticing, the overall square inch footprint of this enclosure is slightly smaller than the 36x18 most people seem to shoot for (which doesn't surprise me, given that's the standard dimensions for an aquarium, and thus readily available).

Would I perhaps be wise to limit my search to males who don't have the potential to grow to the same size as a female? Or would this enclosure be suitable for even a large female?

Thanks in advance.

[The Serpent Merchant]

You can keep either in a 2'x2' enclosure, I personally keep both in 4'x'2'x1' enclosures.

[Alexandra V]

You should be fine with either sex in a 2x2, that's more than enough for most ball pythons at full size

[sho220]

Do you plan on getting a hatchling/young'n or an adult?

[Wiggy]

Thanks, just wanted some reassurance on that

Sho, the snakes I've got my eye on are about 2 years old.

I've only checked the one supplier so far, though. I still have to write them to inquire about feeding, prey size, weight of the snakes, etc.

[HighVoltageRoyals]

Weeellll I would say go for the girl; that would be ample room for her. Who knows, she might come in handy if you decide to breed later (considering females are more sought after then males if you're talking about normals).

[purplemuffin]

I personally like to pick up normal males when I'm looking for a pet. Because they are always so unwanted. One of our local rescues just has racks and racks of males, while females barely last there a week after they are ready to be adopted. Girls are good for breeding so they are bought by breeders and they get larger, making first time pet owners go crazy for them(big enough to impress non-snake people, but small enough to be safe and easy)

But either works fine. Go for the animal that is right for you.

[SlitherinSisters]

I think that is plenty big. I keep my breeder females in tubs just about that exact size and it's more than enough room for a fully grown female.