More Aggressive Ball Python Issues - PLEASE HELP!!!

[Skep]

I have a 1 and a half year old ball python. I've had him for around 11 months, and he has always been extremely docile. He's very healthy and he's never had any problems shedding. However, a few weeks ago, he started acting pretty aggressive. He settled down for a week or so while he was shedding, but now he's just back to his aggressive self. It's very hard to get him out of his tub because he constantly lashes out, even if I'm wearing gloves. Granted, I don't handle him as much as I used to. (Probably around 1-2 times a week, if I can get him out) I'm not afraid of him, and I'd love to handle him more, but it's extremely frustrating and gruelling to even get him out of his cage. However, if I successfully get him out of his cage and onto the floor of the room, he immediately settles down. Not sure if that even matters or not.

I keep him in a 32 QT/30 L sterilite tub. I have two hides at each end of the tub, a water bowl in the middle, and some fake leaves. I have a ZooMed UTH on the right side of the tub which I regulate using a HydroFarm thermostat. On the left side of the tub, I have a heat lamp with a 75 watt red bulb that stays on 24/7.
The cool side of the enclosure usually stays at 78-80 degrees, and the hot side usually stays around 90 degrees. His humidity is very consistent, 60-65% normally, and 70-75% when he's going into shed.

Should I move the heat lamp over to the same side that the UTH is on? He does have areas where he can escape the heat, but he doesn't necessarily have an entire side of the enclosure free of heat. I'm just afraid that if I put the heat lamp on the same side as the UTH, it would get way too hot...
However, I've had this set-up for the whole 11 months that he's been in my care, so I'm not sure why he would just start acting aggressive now.

I feed him 2 small rats every sunday. I also feed him in a separate enclosure. The rats weigh 45-84 grams each, according to the site that I bought them from. (MiceDirect)

Sorry about all of this info being a bit scattered. Any advice would be helpful, it stresses me out so much when he acts like this, I just want my sweet ball python back.