I too find it a very interesting topic (when it is discussed without accusations and out of place comments lol). I personally believe in "size management." And by this term I only mean feeding a healthy amount to make the snake, doesnt matter if it is a burm, retic, or a ball python, and not overfeeding.

As I have said in my other posts, your average snake keeper will powerfeed their snake. This is more common with larger species but I also know it happens ALOT with ball pythons and some other species as well. Because when most people buy a retic or burm specifically, they are buying it for the size it will get. And most of us on here are Americans and we dont like waiting for things lol. And therefore we WANT IT NOW!! So people feed them too much and too big of prey items to reach that bigger size that they want faster. This, I believe, will result in a bigger snake but also shortened life span. But people get bored fast anyway so who cares if it only lives 10 years as long as you can show it off to your friends and tell people you have a 20+ foot snake in your house (this is NOT my view point, but its the truth).

Now the whole story about the guy only feeding a mouse every 10 days and the 4' 7yr old burm.... That just cant be healthy, but hey at least it lived. And im surprised that it grew to 11' that fast when it is that old. I mean that kind of growth normally only happens in the first few years. But I guess powerfeeding works at any age. But I would say that powerfeeding after being fed that little for so long would make the situation worse... Maybe if he slowly built the amount of food up over a year but going strait to powerfeeding had to pack on some major fat really fast which is never good no matter what kind of animal you are talking about.

But hey snakes are pretty hardy animals aparently because I have personally come across some pretty bad situations and the snakes still seem, for the most part, healthy. I work with them everyday and hear people talk about how some of these animals are being kept.... All I can do is tell them the right way to do things, I cant make them. Every week I have to sell the same guy 4 medium rats for his not even full grown ball python. He feeds him all of them at a time because he said he likes the "more full body look". I always tell him it isnt healthy but I forgot that all owners know what their snake likes and doesnt like and they know whats best for the snake, the people that work with them for a living dont know what they are talking about. I've never had any of my snakes talk to me, I guess Im just not smart enough to understand my snake.... God I hate idiots! And yes if anyone is ready this post and is offended because you "know what your snake likes and doesnt like." Please sell your animal or give it to someone else. Send me a message and i'll come pick up your snake. I honestly care more about the animals than I care about hurting someone's feelings or just selling more products at work. Thats why I am in the field im in.

Sorry I have a lot to say about topics like these lol.