Quote Originally Posted by Skep View Post
I feed him 2 small rats every sunday. I also feed him in a separate enclosure. The rats weigh 45-84 grams each, according to the site that I bought them from. (MiceDirect)
At first I thought you might be underfeeding, but two smalls a week should be fine unless he's huge for an 18 month old.

My guess is that by feeding outside the enclosure he's been conditioned to think that removal from the tub = feeding time, so when you pull him out he expects to get fed. This is why feeding in the enclosure is now advised, as the snakes learn that leaving the enclosure = no food. It's probably also why he's ok once you put him on the floor - it's not where he gets fed.

Try feeding in his tub from now on, and otherwise when you want to get him out, touch him lightly first with a hook as a signal that there is no food coming.