Just to add to what these guys have stated. They are very very calm and normaly put up with alot of stuff before defending themselves. The first defence of a Ball is to ball up hince its name, then if that want work they hiss and move away, last resort biting and thats only after much agervation. Faily cheap to keep up with. You will pay between 50 and 200 dollars for a normal and they go up from there depending on the breader and morph. Like you said they are fairly small 4 to 5 feet for a male and up to 6 for a big female. They have personality that will vary depending on the animal from nice and courious to shy and alittle short tempered. This is why it is important to handle and observe the animal that you are thinking of adding to your family before buying it. And above all ask questions.