In answer to your question a snake in general after partial digestion will eat as soon as the next opportunity arises. As they don't have legs to chase down prey they are forced to be opportunistic feeders.
Graig, I see what you're saying and all ( and partially agree ), but the problem is that it's still opinion even if it's the majority opinion. Not that over feeding shortens lifespan, but the exact time span between feedings.
There have been many studies to both prove, and disprove what you're saying. The bottom line is that many breeders, and pet keepers feed anywhere from every 4 to 5 days, as well as every week with and without ill effects.
A huge amount of go on what their breeder friend told them, or what the majority says, and says that's the bottom line and all else is just plain old killing your snake. Not true man.
Though people, and reptiles have extremely different metabolisms the general idea is the same in a couple ways. For one you can't expect one diet to be perfect for every human nor can you for every snake.
Also a theory of my own is growth spurt feeding ( may or may not have been theorized before??? ). Anyway every animal of every species has spurts of growth caused by hormone production in its youth. Why should snakes be any different? For instance how much does your average retic grow in its first year? 5' maybe 6'? One of my late ( August '09 ) retic girls is 7' 4" and she's not a year old without a millimeter of fat on her. This was achieved not at all by power feeding. It's achieved from close observation, and understanding her body language, and biological signs.
But... At the same time I may be dead wrong. Anyway I'm just trying to say that there are a lot of people that seriously frown upon others for varied husbandry. There are many clear right, and wrong ways such as clean or dirty, hot or cold, humid or dry, but husbandry has and always will vary. Keep an open mind. Even if you're an expert you may learn something.
Hell I've been keeping snakes since my first rtb 20 years ago, but just got into breeding several different snakes. Who'd have thought I'd have learned so much just by listening to other opinions. The breeders I got my first ball python from when I was 11 would have NEVER thought about using a light diffuser to control the humidity to the egg. And even better who was the first person to put a snake in a rubber tub??? lol, I love my rack, and tub setup, but that idea at first had to go over like selling ice.
