I've been doing a little "study" on Burms, since I have heard and read so many debates on their feeding. I agree with feeding smaller more frequent prey items to them. I've been doing this since I've kept them, and for all my Rock Pythons they seem to do much better being fed this way. Other keepers have done the same, and seen better results as well as healthier animals. I had bought 2 females from the same clutch, and two males. I had taken 1.1 of each and put them on different diets from the other pair. Pair number one recieves smaller more frequent meals, where as pair number two recieves larger less frequent meals. Pair number one is fed 10% bodyweight or so each week (one small meal around 5% body weight every few days), where as pair number two is fed 15% bodyweight every 10 days. Both pairs are kept in the same way. Humidity is kept at 55% to 58%. Temperatures are kept at 92F for their warm side, and 84F for their cool side. They both have access to a water bowl at all times, all the same size. They are all kept on cypress mulch, mixed with sphagnum moss.

This is what I have gathered through observations as of now...

Pair #1
- They have a more toned and defined body, and overall healthier appearance to them.
- They act/react more naturally, as well as show much higher activity levels, and show much more curiosity towards their environment.
- Their skin and scales appear healthier so far.
- They have had no shedding problems as of yet.
- They defecate, and urinate on a more regular basis.

Pair #2
- Less active than pair 1.
- Bodies are somewhat less muscular, and have an elastic feel to them, as well as it isn't as firm. Their bodies appear to be a little "fattier".
- They have shown wrinkles, or dented scales (probably due to the fact they lie longer digesting their meal and aren't as active)
- They defecate and urinate on a more infrequent basis.
- Female has shed in 3-4 pieces. (this could be due to other factors non-relative to feeding schedule, or size of their prey).

Here are their weights as followed.
Pair #1
-Weigh in one:
Male: 211 grams
Female: 225 grams
-Weigh in two:
Male: 248 grams
Female: 509 grams
-Weigh in three:
Male: 321 grams
Female: 712 grams

Pair #2
-Weigh in one:
Male: 208 grams
Female: 234 grams
-Weigh in two:
Male: 239 grams
Female: 408 grams
-Weigh in three:
Male: 312 grams
Female: 667 grams

These Burmese pythons were a few months old when I acquired them, and I have only had them for a couple months. I'm doing this little "study/test" to gather information to see which has a healthier outcome for the animal. I just wanted to share what I've gathered so far, and if you'd like I can share the rest of the information as I continue to gather them. I'm going to perform this up until they are around 3 years of age. I am keeping a growth chart as well as feeding records and shed records.

Anyone with more knowledge on breeding behaviour, and nutrition in the giant python species, could you answer a question? If they do gain more nutrition from one method over the other, would the female benefitting the most from their feeding schedule bear more eggs, or lay a healthier clutch? I'm just curious if it would, as it could possibly show which is healthier for the animal as well.