Personality change? HELP!!

[GreenBean]

Hello everyone,

I am new and should probably introduce myself in a different area (will look for that later), but I am DESPERATE and don't have time right now to do much navigating through this site.

PROBLEM: My very sweet young male ball today--for the FIRST time ever--recoiled and struck at me. He did the exact same thing later in the day. So, that's TWICE in one day and he's never done it before. Again, he did not bit, and I didn't even see his mouth open, but you KNOW what a strike is when it happens! He has NEVER exhibited this behavior towards me or anyone before. Nothing new in diet, housing, etc. What are the possible explanations for this?

BACKGROUND: Bought him 6-7 weeks ago. Do not know his history so I assume he was wild caught. He appeared to be in great health. However, I started to notice something going on with the tip of his tail. I took him to an "expert" whom I trust. He said, "Tail rot. Try treating with topical antibiotics and bacteriostats (I tried Betadine soak (tail), Silvadene cream, Neosporin, etc.) If it gets worse, bring him back here or take him to a vet." I also made his ample environment drier and warmer--upper end of recommendations. He has clean water bowl, Aspen bedding, two hidey holes, gradient temps, etc. I don't see much progress in one week and tip of tail is feeling a bit hardened (necrosis?) now. It appears thusly: There is a band of subcutaneous blood about 1/8" from tail tip and this does not appear to have spread but only darkened in color and become more "solid" looking. He also has responded as if it was sensitive for the last couple days when I applied antibiotic treatment. The "infection" does not go up as far as his cloaca and does not appear to be spreading.

DIET: He did not eat anything for the first several weeks (tried frozen mice every way you can think of), and I became concerned. I know eating can be sporadic, but he WAS getting skinny. I was advised to try live mice--it worked immediately. Gave him another 2 days later. Beautiful. Tail not improving despite added nutrition. AND, he has only peed once and that was yesterday. I have YET to see him poop! Might he be impacted? Would this explain his behavior?

Anyway, despite all the TLC I've given him and his usual docile, curious, sweet demeanor, he struck out at me not once, but TWICE today. What the **** is going on?

GB