I believe metabolic rate and growth patterns of snakes are, in part, determined by genetics, as with humans. Some snakes are more likely to gain weight and become obese, and unless you can put your snake on a slither mill (a sort of tread mill for snakes), the only option is cut their caloric intake. This would help explain why some wild caught snakes are fatter than others.
I have an 03’ alterna that I fed on a schedule of 1-2 appropriate sized food items every 7 days, skipping a feeding about every 5th or 6th week. This is the schedule I feed most of my snakes. This one alterna grew about twice as fast as any snake that I have raised previously weighs about the same as a snake that was fed the same schedule and was a 2002 hatch.
I have cut her feedings in half until she thins down…
She is a porker.
