I have a two year old male Jampea Retic(I hate saying dwarf because IMO anything that can get to ten feet is not really a dwarf). I have had him since he was 5 months old and have him hook trained. He knows when the hook comes in it means no food.

Well the other day I was using the hook like I usually do to get him out of his cage and as I was doing that he turned toward me and bit my fingers and coiled around my arm. He showed no defensiveness while I was getting him out before the bite. I gave him a minute to let go before he started chewing on my fingers. So I walked myself with all six and a half foot of snake using my digits as chicken fingers to the bathroom and ran water on his head until he let go. The next day he struck when I opened his cage and was pretty defensive.

Does anyone know why after two years of being very docile he would want to munch down on me? I washed my hands before getting him out and there was no smell of food anywhere. I now have to hook him while wearing long welding gloves to get him out. He's healthy and eats a large rat every ten days(or sooner if he's looking hungry). I am kind of at a loss.

I have six other snakes from a Mexican Black King to a ten foot Burmese. No problems with any of the others.

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks!