How Long Can A Boa Constrictor Get

Are you considering getting a boa constrictor as a pet?

Do you want to make sure you have the space ready for your new reptile friend?

Boa constrictors are one of the fiercest looking snakes out there, but theyā€™re quite docile and friendly reptiles.

One of the big things to watch out for as a new owner is knowing how large they get to be.

Often new owners end up with more snakes than they want.

You need to answer:

How long can a boa constrictor get?

Boa constrictors grow throughout their entire lives, and their size depends on gender and diet. In general, adult female boa constrictors will grow between 7′ to 10′ feet, and mail boa constrictors will grow between 6′ to 8′ feet. If the boa lives a long time, it’s not unheard of for a female to reach up to 13′ feet.

Check out the rest of the post for more details.

how long can a boa constrictor get

How Long Is A Boa Constrictor?

Boa constrictors arenā€™t small pets for you to keep just in any room in your house.

You need to provide enough space for them to grow.

It will take a few years to reach their full size, but when they do, they are big friends.

Boa constrictors are a little different from most reptiles and animals, with females larger than males.

Female boa constrictors grow between 7′ to 10′ feet long and may weigh up to 80 pounds when adults.

Male boa constrictors, on the other hand, only grow between 6′ to 8′ feet and way closer to the 60-pound mark.

Both male and female boa constrictors start around the same size once born.

They are born between 17″ – 20″ inches long in a litter of 30-60 snakes.

They stay about the same for the first six months of their life, but this is when their growth rates start to change.

Boa constrictors reach sexual maturity depending on their length and weight.

Expect a boa to need at least three years to reach maturity and its adult size.

Length and weight are related; a major part of this ratio depends on diet.

As with most snakes, boa constrictors only need to eat once every couple of weeks, if they are given the correct food and size of prey.

What Affects How Long A Boa Constrictor Can Get?

There are a large number of factors affecting how big boas can get.

This section will cover some of the main ways you as a pet owner control.

Space

The most significant factor affecting a pet boa constrictor and their potential size is the space available in their pen.

If the space is too small, the boa constrictor wonā€™t grow to its full potential.

This might seem ideal for those of you who don’t want giant snakes, but by forcing them to remain small in a small cage, they won’t thrive.

In time, they’ll become more susceptible to illness and probably not live to reach their full lifespan.

Learn more about the lifespan of boa constrictors.

We recommend a habitat with 10 square feet of space to crawl in.

Make a space 6′ feet long, 2′ feet wide, and 2′ feet tall at minimum.

Many boat owners will section off a part of a basement or large room, or if the owner lives in a warmer environment, theyā€™ll keep the pen in an outside protected area.

Steady Diet

Steady diet is essential for potential growth, especially for snakes.

In the wild, this is the most significant factor affecting their overall length and weight.

Sometimes theyā€™ll find prey, but itā€™s too small. So they wonā€™t grow much.

Other times they find a lot of prey of good size all in a row.

In this case, theyā€™ll grow larger than average.

As an owner, you donā€™t want to mess around with this.

Feed them our recommended diet consistently over time.

Theyā€™ll grow consistently and gradually throughout their life as they should.

Experts recommend feeding them once every 10 to 14 days.

They should eat a rat or large mouse, which is no larger than the size of their body at mid-length.

Don’t handle the snakes within 24 hours after they’ve eaten.

This may cause regurgitation, which loses nutrients and hurts their bodies.

Age

The quickest growth rate for boa constrictors is during their youth.

When they reach adulthood, they’ll continue growing and shedding their skin to accommodate the new growth every 2-3 months.

The older they are, the bigger theyā€™ll be.

Illness

Boa constrictors may get illnesses such as parasites or respiratory infections.

These may reduce the weight of the boa constrictors and cause it to stop growing.

Parasites will eat the nutrients out of the food while the boa digests it.

Respiratory and other illnesses will lower the boa constrictorā€™s appetite.

As an owner, watch out sudden drops in weight, appetite changes, and changes in droppings. Get your snake to the vet when you see this.

How Long Does It Take For A Boa Constrictor To Reach Its Full Size?

To reach adulthood, it takes 3-4 years for boa constrictors to grow and reach maturity.

Well-fed and cared for snakes will get there quicker than those with inconsistent diets.

The growth rate is unique to the individual snake, but there are some general milestones you may want to look out for.

AgeFemale SizeMale Size
Birth17″ – 20″ inches17″ – 20″ inches
7 months3′ feet3′ feet
2 years6′ feet5′ feet
3 years7′ – 8′ feet6′ – 7′ feet
4 years8′ – 9′ feet7′ – 8′ feet
BeyondGradual growthGradual growth

Conclusion

If you wanted to know how long a boa constrictor can get, you know to plan for up to 10′ feet with females and 8′ feet for males.

This may seem like a lot (and it is), but if you want a big snake safe to keep as a pet, the boa is the best one for anyone to adopt.

Make sure it has at least 10 square feet of space to move around in, and itā€™ll be just fine.

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