Need advice regarding my Ball Python

[Jean]

I have a ball python that I got back in April. I had owned him before and then moved abroad for 2 years, during which a family friend watched over him for me until I got back to the states. After I got him back I left him alone for about a week or so to let him get acclimated to the new environment. I tried to pick him up for a little bit every other day to get him re-used to me touching him but not for very long periods of time. Right away I noticed him acting a lot different than he used to. He didn't stay curled up in a ball much and instead was constantly trying to slither away. Then one day while I was holding him, he suddenly started to squeeze my hand really hard (like he would prey), tensed his body and positioned his neck in an S-shape with his head facing my hand like he was about to strike. I immediately lowered him into his cage (which I think startled him enough that he didn't actually strike) and gently pried him off my hand. Besides that instance I also noticed him shaking his head a lot which he never used to do. Then one day, my little brother had asked if he could hold him for a bit which he had done a lot in the past. The snake was being calm and still, and then suddenly bit my brother on the hand - letting go immediately (I was somehow able to convince my brother that it was the snakes scales that scratched him O_O).

Since then, the snakes been acting extremely aggressive. I always feed him in a separate large plastic container, but just reaching in his normal container to get him into the plastic feeding one is dangerous. And once I've gotten him into the plastic feeding container he immediately will try to attack my hands even though I hadn't touched the rat yet and my hands were washed in strongly scented soap. And then after he's been fed, he'll strike at the side of the container at any movement nearby (sometimes even when there is nothing nearby. And now, he's even struck at the side of his normal container. After doing some research I saw that I should try feeding him more often, so I'm trying to feed him more like once a week than once every week and a half like I used to. But so far it's not working He's about 3 feet long now, and I first got him in 2010 at which time he was about the length of my arm, and the small rat should be the proper size for him. He eats and sheds fine... it's just the aggressiveness. He keeps attacking the side of the container (which can't be good for his face and jaw) and sometimes when he strikes out he's getting mouthfuls of coconut fiber which is worrying me a lot. He used to be such a sweet and docile snake... is there any way to get him to be like that again? At this point I'm afraid to hold him, and I hate that. Any advice appreciated -- and sorry for writing a novel.

[T&C Exotics]

He may be stressed out. Do you have any hides for him? If not get some snug hides that completely cover him with only one opening just large enough for him to get into. If he does have hides try getting him more. Also you can black out 3 sides of his enclosure to make him more secure. Lastly feeding him in a separate container is nor needed and imo causes more stress on the animal than it is worth. I would also personally not keep him on the coconut fiber and would change it to aspen bedding.

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