Protective feeding

[The Serpent Merchant]

Frst off I just gotta say that this snake was a craigslist special and he has been eating live rats for the last four years. So today I decided too try f/t and he took it with absolutely no hesitation! My question is are these guys known to be protective of thier food after they kill it? After he got done squeezing he immediately tuned around and tried to charge me. He then lost completeninterest in the rat. I had to wait till he was not following me anymore to reach back in the the tongs and play zombie rat again. He instantly struck at the rat again and then when he was done he charged at me. So again I had to wait till he wasn't interested in me and then did the zombie rat dance again. This time I stood far away and when he was done squeezing I can see him looking for me again, and when he couldn't find me he started to eat the rat.

Now I know some snakes like to eat in privacy but is it normal for them to protect thier food aggressively? Other than feeding this guy is a total lap slut, he cuddles more than my wife's cats do.

I've never seen that with a ball python, but my carpet python does that every time I feed him. My carpet never actually lets go of the rat, but he certainly gets all defensive if anyone is close to his cage.