some young snakes will be ok to handle when they first start to eat. then they go into a stage where they will become more aggressive and strike . if you do nothing at all, most will out grow it. it's a stage that some of them go thru. if it bothers you where you almost dropped it. best to leave it alone until it gets a little more size to it. I offer my hatchlings food every 3 days, I don't offer them a large meal, but I still can see a slight bulge after feeding.