Doesn't take away from him at all. I don't have a scale but I do need to get one for reasons other than my own snakes. He is 18 inches long and has a firm body, not soft and not skinny. I don't worry about it any more because he comes back in feeding like I said.

Its just odd and in the new thread I would be very interested in reasons that may be brought up other than mating (unless nothing triggers it and its just instinct).