My Blood python that I got when he was quite small was always very relaxed and friendly, but recently he seems to get upset when I try to remove him from the cage or put him back into it, once he is out and being held he seems fine...

He is not head shy at all and you can give him a heavy duty snake skull massage and he seems to not mind at all, however if you touch the end of his tail he pulls in and hisses and gets all pissy again, what a weird snake, he also has a tendency to squeeze through my hand while I hold him and when his belly passes through my grip he always lets off a stinky fart, lol...

Is there any advice on how I can try to break his defensive behaviour when it comes to removing and replacing him in his tub?

Should I just get a snake hook? I would hate to get tagged by him when his is a big boy!