My female is a little over a year old and she is 6-6 1/2 ft. That's with a regular once a week feeding schedule. If you're going to get one get it as young as possible. Handle daily, even if it's only for 5 minutes. That will get it used to being handled. You might get bit a few times but better to be bit by a one footer than a 10 footer. Oh, and invest in a snake hook.