Kathryn - I know how long they can go without eating - my snake went three or so months without anything and he was just fine. He had been eating just fine once a week before this, though - could it be that his eating slowed down with age?
Patti - It is NOT required a snake be fed in a separate cage - that's not true at all. Web pages on it can be found here (
http://www.arbreptiles.com/lastword/snakefeeding.shtml) and here (
http://pet-snakes.com/feed-snake-separate-tank). Most snake experts do not see it as necessary at all and the rational for it can be easily dealt with. Don't feel pressured to feed your snake in a separate cage.