Perhaps you are referring to something different but...

There is the "pinhead effect".
When a snake is not graduated properly through appropriate sized prey items, it is said that they can end up with a head that is smaller proportionally (to their body) than it should be.

It makes sense. If you grow a large snake to it's adult size...by only feeding it lots of small meals...such as mice...the ligaments in it's head will not be stretched as they should be....it could end up with a smaller head than it should have.

As an adult, the snake might physically have a difficult time
attempting to swallow a large rat...or rabbit etc.

This scenario is discussed in Ross and Marzac's old book "The Reproductive Husbandry of Python's and Boas".

(I had the pleasure of meeting Dick Ross back in 1995. Great Guy! He even signed my tattered old copy of the book.)


It is a little outdated...but does have some good info in it.
The book is a classic....and should be on every python or boa keeper's shelf.

Take care.
Your friend,
Harlin Wall - WALL TO WALL REPTILE!
970-245-7611
970-255-9255

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