How big can snakes get? A common misconception is that any snake can grow into an anaconda-sized jungle monster. The truth? Of course, snakes can be slightly larger or smaller depending on environmental factors and gender, but it’s all in the genetics. A corn snake will never get as big as a Burmese python, no matter how old it is or how much you feed it.
So…how big can snakes get? Let’s take a look at some of the most common species, from smallest to biggest. Keep in mind that females are generally larger than males.
Small Snakes
Kenyan Sand Boa: 1.5-2′
Western Hognose: 1.5-3′
Rosy Boa: 2-4′
Medium-Small Snakes
Ball Python: 2-5′ (females are generally much bigger than males)
Garter Snake: 2-5′
Corn Snake: 3-5.5′
Milk Snake: 2-6′ (varies widely by subspecies)
Medium Snakes
California King Snake: 3-6′
Blood Python: 4-6′
Green Tree Python: 4-6′
Dumeril’s Boa: 4-8′
Red Tail Boa: 6-8′
Large Snakes
King Cobra: 10-18′ (not a pet—just cool 🙂 )
Burmese Python : 15-22′
Reticulated Python: 10-20′ (Record: 32′)
Green Anaconda: 20-30′
Do snakes stop growing?
No, but growth slows down big time once it hits adulthood. What kind of snake you have determines how big it will be as an adult.
Can you change a snake’s adult size by feeding it more or less?
Sort of, but only as much as the snake’s genes will allow. A snake fed less will grow up on the smaller end of the spectrum, and a “power-fed” snake will grow up on the larger end of the spectrum. But I don’t recommend starving your snake just to keep it small—it probably won’t work, and you’ll end up with a really **hangry** reptile.
Knowing how big can snakes get is key to taking good care of your pet. So when designing your snake terrarium, remember to plan for your snake getting bigger rather than smaller.
What kind of snake do you have? Tell us about yours in the comments below!