I disagree that heat sources should be excluded to just a single side of the enclosure. It depends entirely on the ambient temps of the room. A cool room may require supplemental heat on both sides to get a proper gradient.

Try feeding him IN his own home. It sounds like you're moving him to a separate container to feed. That could very well be scaring him and making him feel vulnerable. The extra activity may indicate that he's hungry and ready to hunt from home. If you're feeding pre-killed or frozen-thawed, then you can just leave it in the enclosure....cover the enclosure with a blanket or something...and then check on him the next morning.

Another thing that might help him feel secure over the long haul, is to cover three of the sides of the glass tank. (Assuming that's what you're using...just sounds like it) Use some opaque paper to cover three sides so he doesn't feel so exposed to the world around him.