I think with a lot of breeders it is more of a question of racing to get to the target weight for breeding. Sesha surprised the hell outta me last week by taking a leftover rat (thought it would have to go to the AfRock Dispose-All Neph), it was there she jumped at the opportunity.

I see hear and read of folks with large snakes (Rocks, BUrms, Retics etc) feeding aggressivelyy in pursuit of getting the snake to gargantuan proportions as well, and we'll let Freud tackle that one.

A lot of studies lately seem to be relating caloric intake as a factor relating to lifespan/longevity as well - and i thas been established in a couple of species that not eating and long fasts (been a couple AfRocks who'v supposedly gone off feed for 2 years) equate to a longer lifespan.

About every snake in the house has refused a meal at some point - and I don't let it get to me figuring "Hey if you're hungry you'll eat"

You're right it would be a hugely ambitious study crossing YEARS of tracked target data - in the meantime I'm going with our regular weekly appropriately-sized rodental munchies.