Sort
Profile photo for Eli Grant

Tortoises are the longest living reptiles, often exceeding 250+ years.

Jonathan is a tortoise. living on St. Helena, an island in the South Atlantic. He is 187 years old. Currently, he is the oldest reptile in the world.

Here he is in front of the Plantation where the Governor lives.

Tortoises are the longest living reptiles, often exceeding 250+ years.

Jonathan is a tortoise. living on St. Helena, an island in the South Atlantic. He is 187 years old. Currently, he is the oldest reptile in the world.

Here he is in front of the Plantation where the Governor lives.

Profile photo for Christian Schaefer

There is a confirmed case of a ball python getting 47 years old in captivity. As far as I know the ball python is the longest living snake.

Your response is private
Was this worth your time?
This helps us sort answers on the page.
Absolutely not
Definitely yes

Where do I start?

I’m a huge financial nerd, and have spent an embarrassing amount of time talking to people about their money habits.

Here are the biggest mistakes people are making and how to fix them:

Not having a separate high interest savings account

Having a separate account allows you to see the results of all your hard work and keep your money separate so you're less tempted to spend it.

Plus with rates above 5.00%, the interest you can earn compared to most banks really adds up.

Here is a list of the top savings accounts available today. Deposit $5 before moving on because this is one of th

Where do I start?

I’m a huge financial nerd, and have spent an embarrassing amount of time talking to people about their money habits.

Here are the biggest mistakes people are making and how to fix them:

Not having a separate high interest savings account

Having a separate account allows you to see the results of all your hard work and keep your money separate so you're less tempted to spend it.

Plus with rates above 5.00%, the interest you can earn compared to most banks really adds up.

Here is a list of the top savings accounts available today. Deposit $5 before moving on because this is one of the biggest mistakes and easiest ones to fix.

Overpaying on car insurance

You’ve heard it a million times before, but the average American family still overspends by $417/year on car insurance.

If you’ve been with the same insurer for years, chances are you are one of them.

Pull up Coverage.com, a free site that will compare prices for you, answer the questions on the page, and it will show you how much you could be saving.

That’s it. You’ll likely be saving a bunch of money. Here’s a link to give it a try.

Consistently being in debt

If you’ve got $10K+ in debt (credit cards…medical bills…anything really) you could use a debt relief program and potentially reduce by over 20%.

Here’s how to see if you qualify:

Head over to this Debt Relief comparison website here, then simply answer the questions to see if you qualify.

It’s as simple as that. You’ll likely end up paying less than you owed before and you could be debt free in as little as 2 years.

Missing out on free money to invest

It’s no secret that millionaires love investing, but for the rest of us, it can seem out of reach.

Times have changed. There are a number of investing platforms that will give you a bonus to open an account and get started. All you have to do is open the account and invest at least $25, and you could get up to $1000 in bonus.

Pretty sweet deal right? Here is a link to some of the best options.

Having bad credit

A low credit score can come back to bite you in so many ways in the future.

From that next rental application to getting approved for any type of loan or credit card, if you have a bad history with credit, the good news is you can fix it.

Head over to BankRate.com and answer a few questions to see if you qualify. It only takes a few minutes and could save you from a major upset down the line.

How to get started

Hope this helps! Here are the links to get started:

Have a separate savings account
Stop overpaying for car insurance
Finally get out of debt
Start investing with a free bonus
Fix your credit

Profile photo for Ashia Lewis

Whichever species holds the slowest metabolism. Most larger snake species with slower metabolisms usually have a lifespan around 20 - 30 years, and exact, significant differences between the lifespan of differing species haven’t really been determined. However when it comes to individual snakes living well into their 30s, 40s, or even 50s, the cases usually involve rubber or rosy boas.

Profile photo for Theiventhiran Kanthia

A Tortoise is a reptile from the Chelonian family and dwells well on land. A Turtle is a reptile from the Chelonian family and dwells well in the water.Tortoises are the longest living land animal in the world, although the longest living species of tortoise is a matter of debate. Galápagos tortoises are noted to live over 150 years,

Profile photo for Assistant
Assistant

The species of snake known to live the longest is the reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus). In captivity, some individuals have been known to live over 30 years. Other long-lived species include the green tree python (Morelia viridis) and the boa constrictor (Boa constrictor), both of which can also live for several decades under the right conditions. Generally, snakes that are kept in captivity tend to have longer lifespans than those in the wild due to factors like regular feeding, absence of predators, and medical care.

Have you saved $1 million for retirement? Download “The 15-Minute Retirement Plan” now!
Profile photo for Melvina Agrawal

The reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) is the longest snake in the world, regularly reaching over 6.25 meters in length.

The longest reticulated python ever recorded was found in 1912 and measured in at a staggering 10 meters - that's more than half the length of a bowling lane and makes this snake longer than a giraffe is tall.

Reticulated pythons live in southeast Asia and while they are typically found in rainforests, woodland and grasslands, their habitat preference seems to depend on their location. In Myanmar, these non-venomous snakes have only been found in pristine forests, w

The reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) is the longest snake in the world, regularly reaching over 6.25 meters in length.

The longest reticulated python ever recorded was found in 1912 and measured in at a staggering 10 meters - that's more than half the length of a bowling lane and makes this snake longer than a giraffe is tall.

Reticulated pythons live in southeast Asia and while they are typically found in rainforests, woodland and grasslands, their habitat preference seems to depend on their location. In Myanmar, these non-venomous snakes have only been found in pristine forests, whereas in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysian Borneo they've also been recorded in sewers.

Reticulated pythons are known to climb trees by firmly wrapping their bodies around the trunks and using muscular upward force.

The longest and heaviest snake to ever be held in captivity was a female reticulated python called Medusa. Held in the USA, Medusa reached 7.67 meters long and weighed 158.8 kilograms.

Green anacondas (Eunectes murinus) are also exceptionally long snakes. But they have also been subject to exaggerated length measurements in the past, with snakes of over 24 meters allegedly sighted. In reality, the green anaconda rarely exceeds 6.25 meters.

Profile photo for Jeff Spaeth

I had a California mountain kingsnake for 18 years before finally deciding he belongs exactly back where i found him while in the 5th grade.

I chose to believe in a happy ending.

With good care, it seems possible to get far beyond our canine friends’ longevity.

This snake really was full grown at capture too, so there is an actual scientific fact attesting to their possible lifespans…devoid of all the challenges experienced in the wild of coarse.

Profile photo for Johnny M

I once met a man who drove a modest Toyota Corolla, wore beat-up sneakers, and looked like he’d lived the same way for decades. But what really caught my attention was when he casually mentioned he was retired at 45 with more money than he could ever spend. I couldn’t help but ask, “How did you do it?”

He smiled and said, “The secret to saving money is knowing where to look for the waste—and car insurance is one of the easiest places to start.”

He then walked me through a few strategies that I’d never thought of before. Here’s what I learned:

1. Make insurance companies fight for your business

Mos

I once met a man who drove a modest Toyota Corolla, wore beat-up sneakers, and looked like he’d lived the same way for decades. But what really caught my attention was when he casually mentioned he was retired at 45 with more money than he could ever spend. I couldn’t help but ask, “How did you do it?”

He smiled and said, “The secret to saving money is knowing where to look for the waste—and car insurance is one of the easiest places to start.”

He then walked me through a few strategies that I’d never thought of before. Here’s what I learned:

1. Make insurance companies fight for your business

Most people just stick with the same insurer year after year, but that’s what the companies are counting on. This guy used tools like Coverage.com to compare rates every time his policy came up for renewal. It only took him a few minutes, and he said he’d saved hundreds each year by letting insurers compete for his business.

Click here to try Coverage.com and see how much you could save today.

2. Take advantage of safe driver programs

He mentioned that some companies reward good drivers with significant discounts. By signing up for a program that tracked his driving habits for just a month, he qualified for a lower rate. “It’s like a test where you already know the answers,” he joked.

You can find a list of insurance companies offering safe driver discounts here and start saving on your next policy.

3. Bundle your policies

He bundled his auto insurance with his home insurance and saved big. “Most companies will give you a discount if you combine your policies with them. It’s easy money,” he explained. If you haven’t bundled yet, ask your insurer what discounts they offer—or look for new ones that do.

4. Drop coverage you don’t need

He also emphasized reassessing coverage every year. If your car isn’t worth much anymore, it might be time to drop collision or comprehensive coverage. “You shouldn’t be paying more to insure the car than it’s worth,” he said.

5. Look for hidden fees or overpriced add-ons

One of his final tips was to avoid extras like roadside assistance, which can often be purchased elsewhere for less. “It’s those little fees you don’t think about that add up,” he warned.

The Secret? Stop Overpaying

The real “secret” isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about being proactive. Car insurance companies are counting on you to stay complacent, but with tools like Coverage.com and a little effort, you can make sure you’re only paying for what you need—and saving hundreds in the process.

If you’re ready to start saving, take a moment to:

Saving money on auto insurance doesn’t have to be complicated—you just have to know where to look. If you'd like to support my work, feel free to use the links in this post—they help me continue creating valuable content.

Profile photo for Shekhar

These five snake species are the world’s largest snakes and longest reptiles, Other popular largest snakes in the world are known as King Cobra,Bushmaster,King Snakes,Boa Constrictor and Eastern Brown Snake. Follow the link to known about the list of largest and longest snakes in India.

Reticulated Python

The reticulated python is the longest and largest snake species of python living today and can grow to 6.95 m (22.8 ft) in length. Reticulated Python is nonvenomous constrictors found in Southeast Asia but not considered dangerous to humans.

Green Anaconda

The Green Anaconda is the largest, heavi

These five snake species are the world’s largest snakes and longest reptiles, Other popular largest snakes in the world are known as King Cobra,Bushmaster,King Snakes,Boa Constrictor and Eastern Brown Snake. Follow the link to known about the list of largest and longest snakes in India.

Reticulated Python

The reticulated python is the longest and largest snake species of python living today and can grow to 6.95 m (22.8 ft) in length. Reticulated Python is nonvenomous constrictors found in Southeast Asia but not considered dangerous to humans.

Green Anaconda

The Green Anaconda is the largest, heaviest and second longest reptile in the planet earth reaching 6.7 m (22.0 ft) long. Green Anaconda found in tropical South America and known as an aquatic group of snakes. Image Source: slate

African Rock Python

The African rock python is Africa’s largest python and one of the five largest snake species in the world. Python sebae or African Rock Python is large nonvenomous reptile lives in the African savanna and may approach or exceed 6 m (20 ft). Image Source: Wiki

Burmese Python

The Burmese python are one of the largest snake species on earth and native to Southeast Asia but now known to be breeding in the park of South Florida. Burmese Python found near water, grasslands,marshes and swamps, known to reach 5.74 metres (19 ft). Image Source: Wiki

Amethystine Python

The Scrub Python is one of the most popular reptile and the largest native snake in Australia,Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are home to worlds most heaviest and largest snake and scrub python is one of them measured as 5 m (16.4 ft).

Profile photo for Quora User

Probably the larger species - such as the Burmese or Reticulated pythons.

There are documented cases of Reticulated pythons living for 40+ years in captivity.

Discover how Smart Business Buying can help streamline procurement at your organization.
Profile photo for Wadiyat Narjis

The reticulated python record for being the world's longest snake species. Adult reticulated pythons can reach lengths of over 20 feet (6 meters) and weigh up to several hundred pounds.

However, it's important to note that snake lengths can vary, and there may be individual snakes that surpass the average size.

The reticulated python record for being the world's longest snake species. Adult reticulated pythons can reach lengths of over 20 feet (6 meters) and weigh up to several hundred pounds.

However, it's important to note that snake lengths can vary, and there may be individual snakes that surpass the average size.

Profile photo for Rashmi Sharma

Python 30 years , Rattle snake 25 years , Cobra 20 years , Boa 20 years ,Anaconda 10 years , Viper 9 -10 years.

Profile photo for Quora User

That totally depends on the type of snake.

My snake, who's a kenyan sand boa, will hopefully live well over 20 years, so he's certainly a huge commitment.

However, between me and my little sister, he’ll always have someone in my family willing to care for him.

And if we get lucky, maybe even her kids will get to meet him.

Other types of snakes and their life spans:

  • Corn snake: 15–20 years
  • Ball python: 20–30 years
  • Burmese python: 10–25 years
  • King snake: 15–25 years
Profile photo for Donna Fernstrom

Without knowing the exact species you’re talking about (‘black cobra’ is not the recognized common name of any species - there are a couple of non-hooding cobras that are black, like the black desert cobra, but I thought it was unlikely you were talking about them), it’s impossible to give a lifespan for that snake, but most cobras only live for 10 to 20 years. So, the answer is, somewhere between unlikely and impossible. I would cap off the potential lifespan of the longest-lived cobra species, even under ideal circumstances with a genetically unusual individual, at half that - 50 years tops.

Profile photo for Yasha Choudhary

The reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) is the longest snake in the world, regularly reaching over 6.25 metres in length.

The reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) is the longest snake in the world, regularly reaching over 6.25 metres in length.

Profile photo for Elizabeth Yuster

Snakes can live a long time, 3 decades easily for a captive raised snake. Snakes in the wild have a shorter lifespan, and its difficult to determine exact ages. However, snakes continue to grow throughout their lives, so the bigger they are (for their species), the older they are, but know that females are larger than males. I had my Python for 32 years, and he was >1 yr when i took ownership. There are probably records kept for Captive snakes (either in a Zoo, or with a breeder); protected from predators, and the many variables in a wild, some snakes can live as long as 40 years, though that’

Snakes can live a long time, 3 decades easily for a captive raised snake. Snakes in the wild have a shorter lifespan, and its difficult to determine exact ages. However, snakes continue to grow throughout their lives, so the bigger they are (for their species), the older they are, but know that females are larger than males. I had my Python for 32 years, and he was >1 yr when i took ownership. There are probably records kept for Captive snakes (either in a Zoo, or with a breeder); protected from predators, and the many variables in a wild, some snakes can live as long as 40 years, though that’s rare. In addition, a Captive raised snake that becomes ill, shows sign of a cold—requires Veterinary intervention, and this allows for a longer life span. A ‘cold’ or respiratory infection will rarely kill a warm-blooded animal, as they can produce fevers to fight infections. Cold-blooded animals [Poikilotherms] do not have the physiological ability to fight infections….and as such, reptiles can die from infections, colds (viruses) causing respiratory problems. Infections can be caused by the snake getting bitten by a live prey organism, causing an infection …..and that can be a death sentence in the wild. Most “snake” keepers train their snakes to take pre-killed prey, to avoid the dangers of losing a snake to a live, scared rat dropped in their cage. Live feeding isn’t recommended. Snakes organs do not clear out medications as efficiently as a warm-blooded animal, so a Big snake with a cold, will have to get medications (via injection) in small doses, over a longer period of time compared to a warm blooded animal. It takes their liver & kidneys longer to break-down medications. The veterinarian will send the snake owner home, armed with tiny syringes, with medications given over several days, or a week-whatever is required. The Captive-raised snake lives on. Reptiles magazine cites age spans for reptiles, but the difference between how long a reptile can live in the wild vs. one that is kept by an experienced hobbyist can be very large. I own a Vietnamese Golden Gecko, which I inherited from an elderly gentleman and friend in 2000. He told me the Gecko was at least 10 years old, in 2000. Reptiles magazines cites the average lifespan for this Lizard to be 8 years. Well, I STILL have her, I’ve had her 18 years, add 10 to that, and I have a 28 year old Vietnamese Golden Gecko. Thus, the cited lifespans for Reptiles can usually be surpassed with the reptile, (snake) living considerably longer in captivity when properly cared for.

Profile photo for Waqas Ahmed

Well…

Average life span of python:

Variation may occur in the life span of python.

Ball 0pythons may have of 30 years..

In captivity, pythons can live for two or three decades. Some live much longer than this -- and pythons tend to live longer than many other snake species do. However, because it is difficult to study snakes in the wild, the natural life spans of wild pythons remain unclear.

One Size Does Not Fit All

While pythons are a rather closely related group of snakes, they do exhibit considerable diversity in terms of body size, lifestyle and ecology. Accordingly, the life spans of the vario

Well…

Average life span of python:

Variation may occur in the life span of python.

Ball 0pythons may have of 30 years..

In captivity, pythons can live for two or three decades. Some live much longer than this -- and pythons tend to live longer than many other snake species do. However, because it is difficult to study snakes in the wild, the natural life spans of wild pythons remain unclear.

One Size Does Not Fit All

While pythons are a rather closely related group of snakes, they do exhibit considerable diversity in terms of body size, lifestyle and ecology. Accordingly, the life spans of the various species vary. AnAge, , gives the following maximum-recorded life spans for these commonly kept species:

  • Children's python (Antaresia childreni) – 25.7 years
  • Green tree python (Morelia viridis) – 20.6 years
  • Reticulated python (Python reticulatus) – 29.4 years
  • Carpet python (Morelia spilota) – 19.6 years
  • Sumatran short-tailed python (Python curtus) – 27.8 years

However, it is important to understand that the maximum-recorded life span is not necessarily indicative of the average life span of a species. For many species, reliable data are rare. For example, according to the database, the maximum recorded life span for the scrub python (Morelia amethistina) is 13.8 years, but these snakes almost certainly reach older ages than this.

Record Holder:

A ball python (Python regius) holds the record for the longest documented life span among snakes. Acquired by the Philadelphia Zoo in 1945, the snake lived at the zoo for 48 years.

Honorable Mention:

In 2009, a pet Burmese python (Python bivittatus) dies at age o 43. The snake, which belonged to a Salt Lake City snake enthusiast, surpassed the previous record holder for the species by 10 years.

The Biology of Longevity:

Many factors influence both the average life span of a species and the exact life span of an individual. Although these factors vary widely and influence the life spans of species in various ways, zoologists have deciphered a few common patterns. In the absence of concrete data, these models may be instructive but do not provide definitive answers.

This general principle appears to apply to many snake species. Additionally, species exhibiting low adult mortality tend to live longer lives than species who exhibit high adult mortality.

Intra-Specific Variation

It is important to consider the possibility that conspecifics from different areas may have different average life spans. Herpetologists have not yet demonstrated this phenomenon in pythons, but some garter snake populations (Thamnophis elegans) yield two types of individuals: Some live long lives in high-elevation meadows, while others live relatively short lives in low-lying, damp habitats.

Profile photo for Mahipal Bouddh's BDA Education

Lifespans of Different Snake Species

  1. Ball Python:- The ball python is one of the most popular pet snake species in the world. It is capable of living over 30 years in captivity, if not longer. However, in the wild, their life span is closer to 5 to 10 years.
  2. Boa Constrictor:- Given their large size and lack of natural predators, boa constrictors live a long life in the wild. They can survive to reach at least 20 years of age. Many boa constrictors live over 40 years in captivity.
  3. Rattlesnake:- Not very many rattlesnakes are kept in captivity, though this does increase their overall lifespan. A wi

Lifespans of Different Snake Species

  1. Ball Python:- The ball python is one of the most popular pet snake species in the world. It is capable of living over 30 years in captivity, if not longer. However, in the wild, their life span is closer to 5 to 10 years.
  2. Boa Constrictor:- Given their large size and lack of natural predators, boa constrictors live a long life in the wild. They can survive to reach at least 20 years of age. Many boa constrictors live over 40 years in captivity.
  3. Rattlesnake:- Not very many rattlesnakes are kept in captivity, though this does increase their overall lifespan. A wild rattlesnake likely lives 5 to 10 years, while a captive one can live closer to 20.
  4. Garter Snake:- Garter snakes are likely the snakes you see in your backyard. Their small species leads them to have shorter life. They live an average of two to four years in the wild. But would likely live longer if ever kept in captivity.
  5. Rat Snake:- Another common backyard snake. The rat snake likely lives 10 to 20 years, both in the wild and in captivity.
  6. Hognose Snake:- Known for its trademark pig nose, it is another popular pet snake breed. They can live almost 20 years in captivity, though their wild lifespan is closer to 5 years.
  7. Corn Snake:- An amiable and popular breed of pet snake. The corn snake lives an average of 12 to 18 years in captivity. It lives closer to 7 years in the wild on average.

BDA Education Space-Mahipal Bouddh

Profile photo for Lee Hsiang Hong

Reticulated Python of Southeast Asia is longer but more slender, and has been reported to measure as much as 10 m (33 ft) in length.

Profile photo for Vivek Kumar

The reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) is the longest snake in the world, regularly reaching over 6.25 metres in length.

Profile photo for Jason Irelan

That's gonna be the green anaconda or the reticulated python, and neither one is a snake for beginners. Now if you wanna know what the longest snake in Earth's history is, that's the titanaboa.

Profile photo for Morgan Stewart

I’ve had two king snakes, the first was a California king and he was adult when I got him so I didn’t know his age. He died when I’d had him for 11 years. My second king snake was an Eastern king, he was two years old when I adopted him and he lived to be 24. One of his vets told me he could possibly live to 35 (this was when he was around 8 years old) but I suspect that is uncommon.

Profile photo for Donna Fernstrom

Snakes live in deserts,

And among the branches of trees,

On the rainforest floor,

On windswept prairies,

And temperate woodlands,

Beneath the ground,

In rivers and la...

Snakes live in deserts,

And among the branches of trees,

On the rainforest floor,

On windswept prairies,

And temperate woodlands,

Beneath the ground,

In rivers and la...

Profile photo for Holly Cheel

There are many species of pythons but Ball pythons (Python regius) is one of the most commonly kept as pets. If proper husbandry methods are followed this species can live 30 years, the record, is slightly more than 40 years.

The Burmese python, a larger species lives an average of 20 years in captivity - again, providing ideal conditions are maintained.

The Blood python lives an average of 25 years, with the record age of a Blood python in captivity is 27.8 years.

Sadly, longevity records on python species (as pets) aren’t easy to confirm as so many of them either perish due to incorrect living

There are many species of pythons but Ball pythons (Python regius) is one of the most commonly kept as pets. If proper husbandry methods are followed this species can live 30 years, the record, is slightly more than 40 years.

The Burmese python, a larger species lives an average of 20 years in captivity - again, providing ideal conditions are maintained.

The Blood python lives an average of 25 years, with the record age of a Blood python in captivity is 27.8 years.

Sadly, longevity records on python species (as pets) aren’t easy to confirm as so many of them either perish due to incorrect living conditions, or get passed around from home to home (making it difficult to confirm age.)

Profile photo for Dustin Michaels

It’s not the tortoise, immortal jellyfish, or killer whale. There are many animals that can outlive all of these species.

The longest living non-colonial animal is the ocean quohog, which has been documented to live at least 500 years. It’s fairly easy to determine the age of these animals, as the years can be counted like the rings on trees.

Giant volcano sea sponges (which yes, are animals) may be able to live up to 15,000 years. Realistically, their lifespan is closer to “just” 10,000 years. Overall, this is the species of animal that probably lives the longest.

Water bears (tardigrades) are t

It’s not the tortoise, immortal jellyfish, or killer whale. There are many animals that can outlive all of these species.

The longest living non-colonial animal is the ocean quohog, which has been documented to live at least 500 years. It’s fairly easy to determine the age of these animals, as the years can be counted like the rings on trees.

Giant volcano sea sponges (which yes, are animals) may be able to live up to 15,000 years. Realistically, their lifespan is closer to “just” 10,000 years. Overall, this is the species of animal that probably lives the longest.

Water bears (tardigrades) are tough, and can be suspended for 100 years, but they normally don’t live longer than a few months. When it comes to living in space, they have the longest lifespan.

Large tortoises probably live the longest out of all terrestrial vertebrates. The record for a tortoise is 255 years. Koi can live for 226 years. Greenland sharks may live up to 400 years. Bowhead whales can also break 200. The lifespans of long-lived animals are quite unknown. Rockfish can live over 200 as well. Overall, a deep-sea fish probably has the title.

Honourable mentions:

Sea urchins: 200+

Humans: Longest out of all terrestrial mammals at 122

Black coral: 4500 years (longest out of all continuously living)

Aspens networks (not animals): Up to 800000 years

Various birds (condors, parrots, flamingos, albatrosses): Over 80

Hydras and immortal jellyfish probably won't live past 10 years. The life dangerous and volatile lives. While they don’t necessarily have limits, it’s very unlikely that they would come even close to some of the animals on this list.

Aging has been in the animal kingdom for a long, long time. Several hundreds of millions of years. This is a trait that dates back to a time where sponges, sea combs, and microscopic worms made up the most of the organisms on earth. Those “worms” developed the aging trait as we know it, and most of the animal kingdom descends from them. Since the common ancestor is so far back, nearly all organisms age.

Profile photo for Laura Snake

Snakes reach sexual maturity within two to four years, depending on the species and living conditions. In perfect conditions, adult snakes live anywhere from 20 to 30 years, with natural predators and the encroachment of humans severely limiting the number of years most snakes live.

Most snakes have a life expectancy of about 10–20 years. But of this list, a garter snake has one of the shortest lifespan. In captivity, they can live to about 6–10 years of age. In the wild, however, they have a lifespan of about 3–4 years.

Next on this list, is a Western Hognose. and Corn snakes, If cared for properly, these snakes can live up to 18 years. Other snakes like ball pythons, can live up to 30 years. Most snakes, live around 10–20 years of age, so there aren't many snakes that have a short lifespan.

Footnotes

Most snakes have a life expectancy of about 10–20 years. But of this list, a garter snake has one of the shortest lifespan. In captivity, they can live to about 6–10 years of age. In the wild, however, they have a lifespan of about 3–4 years.

Next on this list, is a Western Hognose. and Corn snakes, If cared for properly, these snakes can live up to 18 years. Other snakes like ball pythons, can live up to 30 years. Most snakes, live around 10–20 years of age, so there aren't many snakes that have a short lifespan.

Footnotes

Profile photo for Virendra Kumar Jain

It depends on the species, but most snakes tend to live long lives. For example, corn snakes have a lifespan of 5-10 years, ball pythons can live for 20-30 years, and kingsnakes often live for 12-15 years.

In perfect conditions, adult snakes live anywhere from 20 to 30 years, with natural predators and the encroachment of humans severely limiting the number of years most snakes live.

There's also the Ball Python, with a lifespan of over 30 years. The oldest living animal of this snake breed resides in Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri in the US and is 62 years old.

Profile photo for Serge Elia

Like others have said, a python’s lifespan really depends upon that individual python, the suitable environment it lives in, its behavior and feeding habits, as well as its species. For example: Burmese pythons are among the longest-living snakes, since their average lifespan can exceed 15–20 years – in fact, one individual was reported to have lived at about 28 years old!

Ball pythons (probably the world’s smallest python subspecies) tend to live longer than any other snake, for about 30 years or more in captivity, even two or three decades! The surprise doesn’t stop here: the record for pytho

Like others have said, a python’s lifespan really depends upon that individual python, the suitable environment it lives in, its behavior and feeding habits, as well as its species. For example: Burmese pythons are among the longest-living snakes, since their average lifespan can exceed 15–20 years – in fact, one individual was reported to have lived at about 28 years old!

Ball pythons (probably the world’s smallest python subspecies) tend to live longer than any other snake, for about 30 years or more in captivity, even two or three decades! The surprise doesn’t stop here: the record for python longevity belongs to an individual ball python that was reported to have lived for 45 years!

It is generally believed that, like most animals, pythons have a longer lifespan in captivity than they do in the wild (where their longevity is usually no more than 10 years due to the struggle for survival), since they are given a lot of food and supervision by their human caretakers 24/7, have no predators to fear from, and don’t have any habitat-related issue to deal with. The result: you’ve got yourself a long-living python that can live for 25–48 years, probably more...

All photos are not mine, they belong to their rightful owners.

Your response is private
Was this worth your time?
This helps us sort answers on the page.
Absolutely not
Definitely yes
Profile photo for Bill Sneddon

The best answer is, it depends.

The longest known snake is the Reticulated Python, but despite its length, it’s not the heaviest.

The heaviest known snake is the Green Anaconda, there’s a lot of stories of it also being the longest. However, it’s just that, stories and hearsay.

The longest known venomous snake is the King Cobra.

Profile photo for Quora User

my agent probably will

Profile photo for Jacob Gough

There is only one Black cobra: the Black Necked Spitting Cobra. This is a snake that has no extraordinary talents apart from being able to spit venom. I assume that you heard of such an animal on a bad website, word of mouth or even a dodgy YouTube video. An animal that can live that long is possible, obviously, in terms of a 100 year lifespan, however 1000 years is just ridiculous. Cobras are native to Africa, so i wouldn’t put it past a tribe to have a legend of such an animal.

Hope you found this helpful

Profile photo for Chee-Eng, Lim

A Malaysian reticulated python was the longest snake caught in Penang, in recent time.

Python caught in Malaysia could be the longest ever recorded
Local authorities say snake is initally estimated at 8m long, beating the previous Guinness world record for a snake of the same species called Medusa

However, it died.

But maybe her sisters are still lurking in the forest off Johore. We also have the world’s longest venomous snake, the king cobra.

Good things too, we need them to keep those part-time soldiers from crossing over from the little Red Dot.

Profile photo for Freja Hansen

The longest species of snake in existence is the Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus reticulatus). It is native to South and Southeast Asia, and specimens typically range between 1.5 to 6.5 meters.
The 6+ meter specimens are somewhat rare, but they are regularily recorded.
Reticulated python - Wikipedia

The retic in this picture was measured to be app. 5 meters long, which is not an abnormal size for this species. Source: Phuket News: Phuket rescue team catch 5-metre/80kg reticulated python

The longest modern snake specimen (that we know of) is a retic named Medusa, which is also refer

The longest species of snake in existence is the Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus reticulatus). It is native to South and Southeast Asia, and specimens typically range between 1.5 to 6.5 meters.
The 6+ meter specimens are somewhat rare, but they are regularily recorded.
Reticulated python - Wikipedia

The retic in this picture was measured to be app. 5 meters long, which is not an abnormal size for this species. Source: Phuket News: Phuket rescue team catch 5-metre/80kg reticulated python

The longest modern snake specimen (that we know of) is a retic named Medusa, which is also referenced in another reply to this question. According to Guiness World Records she was 7.67 meters in 2011. Note that this measurement was done on a living animal, making it impossible to get it precise. Scientifically, the animal must be dead or under anesthesia for the measurement to be considered valid. The largest such measurement to date is a wild animal found to be 6.95 meters. More about Medusa here: Longest snake in captivity ever

The longest snake ever to exist (again, that we know of) is the prehistoric species Titanoboa cerrejonensis. Fossils found date back to 58–60 million years ago, and comparisons between the fossil vertebrae and skeletons of modern snakes led to the conclusion that the Titanoboas could reach a size of around 12.8 meters. These snakes belonged in the Boidae family, and are thus closer related to the Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus, the heaviest modern snake species) than to the Reticulated Python. Titanoboa - Wikipedia

No, it's rare for any animal to reach that age, almost impossible, an average snake in captivity can live up to 40 or older but it really depended on the species.

No

Profile photo for Christian Schaefer

Yes. There are lots of endangered snake species. For an example the German population of Dice Snakes is critically endangered. BTW All European reptiles are officially protected on European soil because all are at least regionally endangered due to massive habitat destruction due to urbanization, introduction of invasive animals such as raccoons and tanukis, and in some cases active persecution despite it being illegal.

Some other snakes that are on CITES due to being threatened at becoming endangered if hunting of them isn’t stopped are for an example all boas and pythons and all Asian species

Yes. There are lots of endangered snake species. For an example the German population of Dice Snakes is critically endangered. BTW All European reptiles are officially protected on European soil because all are at least regionally endangered due to massive habitat destruction due to urbanization, introduction of invasive animals such as raccoons and tanukis, and in some cases active persecution despite it being illegal.

Some other snakes that are on CITES due to being threatened at becoming endangered if hunting of them isn’t stopped are for an example all boas and pythons and all Asian species of cobra.

Some snakes that are actually endangered are the Golden Lancehead Pitviper, the Mangshan Mountain Pitviper, eastern Indigo Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, and the Meadow Viper.

Profile photo for Christopher Stewart

According to the most recent record I can find, there are no recorded cases of lobsters dying for old age, as far as we know they only die when animals kill and eat them or they catch a disease or they starve. Turtles live impressively long some times 100 to 200 years. But there have been mussels that exceeded 400 years old. Some whales are so old that researchers have found stone spearheads embedded in their blubber.

Profile photo for Vaibhav Kumar

My friend is still alive and he is 23 years old now, so you can expect atleast 23 years as minimum life span of a snake.

About · Careers · Privacy · Terms · Contact · Languages · Your Ad Choices · Press ·
© Quora, Inc. 2025