Controlling the size of your BP

[Iamelliot]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick question I wanted to ask - is it possible to "control" the size of your ball python. I am thinking of getting a pastel or mojave as my 2nd one but I am worried about the size . Ideally I would be comfortable with about 3 feet. Is it possible to maintain the size of a BP to about 2.5 - 3 ft for males?

What about females? I know they grow longer (4 ft ish) but we control their size through their diet?

Looking forward to some replies

Cheers,
IamElliot

[I-KandyReptiles]

If you feed them properly, no, you cannot "guarantee" that a snake will stay a certain size.

The only way possibly would be if you were to starve it. And you shouldn't own animals of any kind if you even THINK of doing that.

If you get a snake, be prepared on the fact that it can get LARGER than average.

[youbeyouibei]

If you feed them properly, no, you cannot "guarantee" that a snake will stay a certain size.

The only way possibly would be if you were to starve it. And you shouldn't own animals of any kind if you even THINK of doing that.

If you get a snake, be prepared on the fact that it can get LARGER than average.

x2 to this ^. You could try and handpick one that has "smaller" parents; genetics would factor into that but again, no guarantee of an animal staying a certain size. What's your concern with one being longer/larger? I have a few large females who are over three feet and several thousand grams and they're as docile as my 149 gram juvenile. If you're intimidated by their size, maybe they're not the species for you. Not trying to be harsh, just saying.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

You absolutely can not control how big a snake gets. It's a rumor that they only grow to how big the tank is or how much you feed them. If fed and housed properly, a ball python can grow to be anywhere from 3 1/2 to 5 feet, with extremes of 6ft females having been known in rare cases.

If you want a smaller ball python make sure you get a male. They tend to stay smaller overall but it's no guarantee. I myself had a male cinnamon that was huge for a male at a thick 2500+ grams and 4ft.

If you're that concerned with size maybe you should go with something that will not get as large. Corn snakes get longer but not as heavy bodied. If you absolutely want a boa or python look into spotted or children's pythons, and rosey or sand boas.

[Mike41793]

Honestly i dont think theres that much of a difference between a 4 foot 3kg bp and a 3 foot 2kg bp. Just feed them normally, you cant control their size. You wont even be able to tell how big they are. Length just isnt that noticeable or that big of a deal.

EDIT: my pastel femal is probably around 4-4.5 feet. She still doesnt seem like a "big snake" though. Shes a little over 1,800grams.

[kitedemon]

There is no way to control size. Underfeeding (starving) is barbaric and even that will NOT control size just weight perhaps. If you wanted a smaller animal perhaps a smaller species would suit better? Garter snakes or green snakes tend to maintain smaller stature.

[barbie.dragon]

Why are you worried about the size of the snake? Is it because of the amount of space they take, how big of a rat they would eat or are you scared of bigger snakes?

Like everyone said up there the size is determined genetically and we can't/don't have the technology to determine. And you can stunt the growth of a snake by limiting the amount of food they eat but that would be borderline or actual abuse. A ball python at 5 feet can't really hurt a human being if that's what you're worried about.

[loonunit]

I really don't recommend doing that. Especially to a female.

If you know you want a small snake, and you really really want a ball python, adopt a small adult male who's a few years old already. That way you know how big he's going to be.

Be prepared for the snake to stop eating entirely in the winter, and then become aggressively hungry in the summer. Ball python appetites vary with the season. Please don't starve a hungry ball python in the summer. They need to build up fat reservoirs for the winter.

...or you can just buy a corn snake, or a children's python. There are plenty of really awesome snakes that only get to 3 ft.

[SlitherinSisters]

I guess if you don't feed them ??? I really don't know why you would bother getting ball pythons if you aren't comfortable with their size. They are going to get that size regardless of what you do, they will just be super skinny if you don't feed them enough. They aren't big snakes, although I suggest you stick with males and not even think about females if you want them to stay around 3 feet.

[Iamelliot]

Hi all, thanks for your insightful reply. I probably wouldnt want my ball python to be too large in the future, but yeah neither would I want to starve him for my own personal selfish reasons - that's just wrong!!