Ball Python Growth?

Question

Our ball python Cairo is around 3 feet long. We feed her roughly every 2 weeks, a live mouse.

I don't particularly want her getting big!

Is she going to regardless? I have 2 small children...

Answer 1

She might grow another 12 inches but that's all. They are great with kids. Dont try to stunt her by squashing it into a small cage, that just makes them upset. Keep it happy and it's a great pet for kids.

Answer 2

I'd advise you not to worry about the growth of your BP.

And about the children, ball pythons are generally nice, calm snaked. You wont have to worry about the snakes attacking the children.

Answer 3

5 feet is the average size for an adult female BP. At 3 feet long she should be getting 3 or 4 mice or a couple of rat pups once every 5 to 7 days. Don't try to keep her from growing by not feeding her, it won't work. All you'll have is a miserable snake that is mean because it is hungry.

As far as your kids go I wouldn't worry at all. Snakes won't try to kill something they can't eat so unless your kids are the size of small rats...

Edit: From the sounds of it you are underfeeding her. At the very least bump her up to 2 mice every 5 to 7 days.

Answer 4

Ball Pythons usually reach 4' in length; so she won't get much bigger.  Love those snakes.

I  handle them frequently when I do my voulenteer work at the zoo.  I love they way they wrap around my arm like a tree branch.

Answer 5

ever 2 week is good my is 2ft long i feed it ever 7 days mice but gonna start moving up to small rat or gerbil