How big will he get?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

Is 3ft normal for a male?

---

I don't think it is, no. I'm with you, I also think it is more like 4 - 4.5 for an adult. While I don't have it in front of me, average sizes of male BPs are briefly covered in the Barkers' book -- the average lengths are close to the same. Also in the passage, it notes that the collected females had recently laid, and so weighed less at the time than their male counterparts. Females, of course, likely have the greatest maximum size.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dutti

I have adopted my male when he was 3 years old and he was 3 feet. What surprises me is that it’s written on his identification paper which was issued when he was born that he would reach a maximum length of 4 feet. And it’s true. He is now 5 years old and 3,6 feet. How did the breeder at the time of his birth know that he would reach only a maximum length of 4 feet? By the way, I’m happy with his size, it fits his new enclosure very good. I’m just not happy with his feeding habits

---

I would say the breeder put "general" information on the papers. Males "usually" reach a maximum of 4 feet long.
Anything between 800 and 1600 gr is considered normal for a male. There are exceptions, as with everything.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

Zina, he is a beautiful and huge boy! He is simply amazing! I hope Odyn gets big. I thought males grew to 4-4.5 ft. Is 3ft normal for a male?

---

Most adult males may be longer, but 3 feet is still in the range. Most males I've seen were around 3 1/2 to 4 feet long.

For a few years I just assumed Jag was sent to me sexed wrong and was actually a female. Until I started breeding last year and paired "him" up with my other male. They both sat in opposite ends of the tub, looking highly offended, LOL. I thought to myself, could he/she actually really be a male ? So..out came the sexing probes. And yup, most definitely male. I could have sworn he was a girl, based on his size, girth, growth.

Perhaps somewhere in his genetic makeup he carries the genes of those larger growing Ball Pythons from the Volta region.

I'm not all that worried about it, he is a awesome snake, and not just because he is big, LOL.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zina10

Here is a older picture that "kind of" shows how long he really is.

---

Yeah, that's definitely the difference then, Pollux is about 38" right now if I remember right, pushing 900g. I don't suspect he'll ever be close to that large, even if he "catches up" somehow. Unlikely, given the fasting he decides to do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrBeeBow

i have a 8 month old male that is 511 grams right now, how much bigger will he get?

---

I dont know of any males personally (over 3 years) that are less than 3.5 feet. My 15 month female is 40 inches now and eats once every 7-10. My male I sold to my friend is 36" and the same age. I don't power feed either. These guys grow through-out their lives. I hear a lot of people say 2'-3' males and in my personal experience that would be the smallest Male i have ever see.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dutti

I have adopted my male when he was 3 years old and he was 3 feet. What surprises me is that it’s written on his identification paper which was issued when he was born that he would reach a maximum length of 4 feet. And it’s true. He is now 5 years old and 3,6 feet. How did the breeder at the time of his birth know that he would reach only a maximum length of 4 feet? By the way, I’m happy with his size, it fits his new enclosure very good. I’m just not happy with his feeding habits

---

The size he is now at 5 years may not be his Max size... He will grow throughout his life. All though Males are smaller & grow slower than females, i don't know of any (personally) that are less than 4 feet at 10 years old.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A lot of good comments in here I wanted to touch on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zina10

Genetics definitely do play a part !

I have mentioned that before, but I got 5 hatchlings in 2010 (3 females, 2 males) all were approx the same size/age.

Despite being on the same feeding schedule, Jag grew much faster and much bigger then the others, right from the start ! He has never, ever been power fed. Last year he took a 8 month fast and barely lost 160 gr or so. I was breeding the 3 females with the other male and even though Jag wasn't the one breeding, he stopped eating during that time :rolleyes: I was showing off one of the females to a friend and then got Jag out afterward. He kept nosing and sniffing around my arm and I believe he figured out there were female BP's in "breeding mode" nearby...

No fat on that boy either, he is all muscle, and quite strong. For a Ball Python, anyway ;)

As for feeding, he hasn't been on a "set" schedule. He now eats large rats, because that is what keeps him "satisfied" and from looking for more (they leave no lump in him, either...) After he eats I simply wait until he tells me he is ready for more. I know him so well by now, I can tell when he is cruising for food. Usually he waits about 2 weeks between meals, sometimes 3. He also skips feeding when in shed.

So he is definitely not being overfed, yet even now he continues to grow, albeit much slower then he used to..

---

I agree, genetics are 100% responsible for potential growth. Then comes feeding habits. A snake that has the genetics to get 7' over it's life span should eventually get there if it is not restricted from food, a lot of food will result in reaching it earlier but will also potentially shorten its life span. On the other hand, a snake with the genetic potential to get to 4', will never get to even 5', no matter how much you feed it, extra food will only increase how quickly it gets to it's genetic potential. I have a pastel desert ghost that I received at about 2 years old and was 700g. She quickly showed me she wanted more food so I gave it to her. She has grown longer than any of my other bp including ones that are well into adulthood and she is only a little over 3 and is now 2700g. There is no question in my mind that this is an example of large bp genetics. I have a few other females that eat just as much as her and they honestly have not grown half as much as she did this past year. She is just a genetically larger snake, you can even see it in her head, it's larger than all my other females including the ones that are much older than her and some are even stockier but she still has a lot of filling out to do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Godzilla78

I’ve come to the conclusion, I’m ok with them being smSll and regulating their weight themselves. I offer plenty of food. If they want to eat and grow, they do. If they want to refuse and stay small, that’s cool too.
Mine are all plenty bulky, so a fast wouldn’t bother me in the slightest at this point.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Honestly, this is the way to do things. Feeding more with some and less with others is ok. No need to push for extra growth or get stressed because your bp skips a meal. Let them eat how much they want, ones with faster growing potential will may want to eat more and imo it's ok to feed your bp until they are satisfied within reason. But if they eat more, don't try to feed them at their normal weekly schedule if they don't show interest. Basically, let them decide to eat how much they want as long as they are healthy, no reason to restrict or push food. With that said, I guess there is the odd case of having a bottomless pit feeder, my personal favorite, and if your lucky enough to have one of them, you will need to stick with a schedule. Just feed them maybe a little larger than average prey size and weekly. They are also the ones that can get that extra rat when one of your others refuse as long as the first rat wasn't too large.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dutti

I have adopted my male when he was 3 years old and he was 3 feet. What surprises me is that it’s written on his identification paper which was issued when he was born that he would reach a maximum length of 4 feet. And it’s true. He is now 5 years old and 3,6 feet. How did the breeder at the time of his birth know that he would reach only a maximum length of 4 feet? By the way, I’m happy with his size, it fits his new enclosure very good. I’m just not happy with his feeding habits

---

The breeder didn't know, he just went with the average which is fine. If someone is interested in how big their bp will get, nobody can say for sure so it's best to just go with the average.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mr Sully

The size he is now at 5 years may not be his Max size... He will grow throughout his life. All though Males are smaller & grow slower than females, i don't know of any (personally) that are less than 4 feet at 10 years old.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

This is another good point, they never stop growing, just slow down. So you never really can say when they are maxed until close to their death. If a snake with the genetic potential to get huge is on a restricted for its first 5 years, you better believe if it starts getting fed more, it's still gonna get huge.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rufretic

A lot of good comments in here I wanted to touch on.



I agree, genetics are 100% responsible for potential growth. Then comes feeding habits. A snake that has the genetics to get 7' over it's life span should eventually get there if it is not restricted from food, a lot of food will result in reaching it earlier but will also potentially shorten its life span. On the other hand, a snake with the genetic potential to get to 4', will never get to even 5', no matter how much you feed it, extra food will only increase how quickly it gets to it's genetic potential. I have a pastel desert ghost that I received at about 2 years old and was 700g. She quickly showed me she wanted more food so I gave it to her. She has grown longer than any of my other bp including ones that are well into adulthood and she is only a little over 3 and is now 2700g. There is no question in my mind that this is an example of large bp genetics. I have a few other females that eat just as much as her and they honestly have not grown half as much as she did this past year. She is just a genetically larger snake, you can even see it in her head, it's larger than all my other females including the ones that are much older than her and some are even stockier but she still has a lot of filling out to do.



Honestly, this is the way to do things. Feeding more with some and less with others is ok. No need to push for extra growth or get stressed because your bp skips a meal. Let them eat how much they want, ones with faster growing potential will may want to eat more and imo it's ok to feed your bp until they are satisfied within reason. But if they eat more, don't try to feed them at their normal weekly schedule if they don't show interest. Basically, let them decide to eat how much they want as long as they are healthy, no reason to restrict or push food. With that said, I guess there is the odd case of having a bottomless pit feeder, my personal favorite, and if your lucky enough to have one of them, you will need to stick with a schedule. Just feed them maybe a little larger than average prey size and weekly. They are also the ones that can get that extra rat when one of your others refuse as long as the first rat wasn't too large.



The breeder didn't know, he just went with the average which is fine. If someone is interested in how big their bp will get, nobody can say for sure so it's best to just go with the average.



This is another good point, they never stop growing, just slow down. So you never really can say when they are maxed until close to their death. If a snake with the genetic potential to get huge is on a restricted for its first 5 years, you better believe if it starts getting fed more, it's still gonna get huge.

---

Hi Mr. Sully! Long time no see...

Good to see you back!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zina10

Hi Mr. Sully! Long time no see...

Good to see you back!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

You miss quoted me lol. But I here ya, have not seen Mr. Sully around here in a while. Welcome back 😊

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rufretic

You miss quoted me lol. But I here ya, have not seen Mr. Sully around here in a while. Welcome back 😊

---

That's what happens when I'm multi tasking, LOL !!!

I just placed my little Pastel Enchi girl...was waiting to meet the new owners while cruising the forum on Tapatalk..