So I have something to add to the conversation that may be in the opposite of popular thought. I was (and am still) in the school of thought of feeding in the enclosure, cage aggression is a myth, it is the best for the snake and me.

Well, my guy has been in my house for a month or two and lately he has been showing signs of hunting or hunger and we discovered that at his weight it was time to switch him to a bigger size rat. So he was very hunt like the other night and we decided to give him a second rat since they are weaned and he should be eating the weight amount of two anyway. He ate twice this week, as soon as yesterday and when we unlocked the top of his cage to give him water and mist, he came out of his hide and went into strike position.

Temps are great, humidity is great, setup is great, the only thing that could be causing him stress is a bit of shed skin that hasn't come off for a week and a half despite raised humidity and a soaking. I doubt that is stressful enough that he is now going into strike mode as soon as we go into the cage.

Is that learned cage aggression? Is he just in a mood lately? What do you all think? I am not about to start feeding in a tub, but it is troublesome that he is acting this way.