If your feeding 10-15% of its body weight you should be good there.

It sounds like it was a defensive strike. You have to remember they can sense heat very well and it just spoked it. My young bloods will do this often. My gtp will strike at shadows.

You need to control your startle response so you don't end up injuring your buddy. I have been tagged by my bloods and green tree. It doesn't hurt and will do far less damage to you and them than dropping them. I'm sure that short drop didn't hurt him but it is not a habit you want to start.

Just realize that handling and keeping snakes will almost certainly lead to you getting tagged eventually.