Maintenance feeding

I agree totally with bcr229. Most snakes in captivity are overfed. I don't keep BPs anymore but a few years back I got a yearling carpet python from a very reputable breeder who was 85g on arrival. I saw the feeding records and the snake was eating every 2-4 weeks. I started feeding the animal every 5-10 days like I did with most of my hatchlings and juveniles. Needless to say he grew really quickly. I've since dialed him back to every 2-4 weeks but I see now they don't need nearly as much as we often give them.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Snakes in captivity are typically overfed, and honestly I'd rather get one that's been fed conservatively and is a little on the light/small side versus one that is overweight. That doesn't mean the snake should be underfed to the point where the spine is protruding and you can count ribs though.

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This is exactly spot on. What people don't realize is that what is typically accepted as normal feeding, once a week, is actually much more food than a ball python needs for good health and normal growth. The typical size we see at 1-2 years old is not needed for a ball python to be healthy. You should not base the health or quality of care based on the size of the animal. Starving an animal to save money is completely different than maintenance feeding. Most breeders are not pushing their hatchlings for growth but that certainly doesn't mean the animal is starving or not healthy. You can judge the health of a ball python by it's appearance but not by size vs age. When deciding on an animal just base it on how it looks, not it's age, and of course the reputation of the breeder.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Personally, that's not who I'd buy from...snakes survive in the wild with a lot less food, and I can't say for sure if it stunts their growth permanently, but I will say
that their immune system might not be as good as it otherwise might be (with more food) & maybe their bones aren't as strong either? I know it's done, but I've
bred some snakes in the past & never considered for a second withholding food. I'm a snake-lover first, never commercial, & I'd support others who do likewise.

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Although I see you have good intentions, it is actually pretty well known that slower growth makes for a healthier, longer living snake. Unless it's taken to the extreme where the animal is being starved to the point of malnourishment, then of course in that case it will lead to all kinds of health problems but this is not what we're talking about here. I can see how some might think a small snake at two years old must of been starved because of what we are used to seeing with weekly feeding but we need to remember that like said already, most ball pythons in captivity are actually overfed.