Also hold his head under water in a sink if you do not wish to use any alcohol based scents. Works fine.

Pythons have been known to eat one another - not a common thing except in those species where it is part of their natural diet. I've never had issues though with retics having an increased food drive being in close proximity to my ball pythons or carpet pythons. He may have just been experiencing some food drive, and thought it was feeding day and not cleaning day?