Quote Originally Posted by mikeraach
My friend has a friend of a friend that will be having some RTB babies soon and is giving them away. I always liked and wanted a bigger snake and when I got my ball python I was hoping he would grow a little bigger but he stopped at 3'.

The parents are 6' and 9' (female/male) and thats all I know about them. Is there a sex that tends to get larger than the other? A 6' RTB would be perfect and a 9' being the max I would ever want. How often do they get this large? What size do they normally get?

When my BP was a baby I held him quite a lot but sometimes recently I only handle him maybe once a week (sometimes once every 2 weeks) and he remains docile and mellow. Are RTB the same in this aspect?

Like BP I know there are morphs for RTB, but are there sub species that get larger than others, or ones that are more aggressive than others that I should watch out for?

How fast do they grow? How big will it be in approx 2 years? I have a 20gal and 40gal tank. I normally keep my BP in the 40gal tank so the 20gal would be perfect for the RTB while its small. I'll be in college for another 2 years and I'd like to be able to use what I currently have as I have no room for another cage. I was planning on getting a RTB when I was out of college so I didn't have to worry about space but this opportunity came about. I read a rule that you should have a tank 2/3 the length of the snake, is this true?
Well, you can't guarantee the size of a snake. Generally, females get bigger than males. Yes, I do believe that there are sub-species of RTBs that are generally fiestier, can get bigger, or smaller. If you want a generally docile snake, then I would go for the Columbian BCI, they range from 6-9 feet.

These snakes can grow VERY rapidly. They reach up to 3-4 feet in the first year. I suggest a plastic tub if you want a BCI. You can keep it in a Sterlite 1960 for a whole year. It is much cheaper, but also it saves space and might make it easier for you to heat the enclosure. If you don't think you have room now for a 4'x2'x2' cage that you will need by the end of next year, then don't get the snake. Wait until you have enough money, space, and time for it before you go make the purchase...