Ball pythons are instinctually opportunistic feeders ... they have evolved to be able to eat when the food is available and store it for when it's not. In the wild, ball pythons probably eat only a handful of times a year (it's not easy to catch foodn when you have to hands).

They certainly can consume very large prey items, but in my experience, it will ultimately lead to a fasting period while their bodies "catch up" with what they've consumed.

By keeping ball pythons in captivity and offering them food on a regular basis, their bodies can adjust to small regular meals all year long instead of a handful of large meals sporadically throughout the year.

-adam