Ongoing Strikes. Suggestions?

[Zincubus]

So the animal is striking at you AFTER you have picked it up? Or he struck at you 4-5 times before you could pick him up?

Yes this is relevant ... they generally calm down immediately they're out.

Either way I’d leave the handling for another couple of weeks .. a couple more feeds then try again .

Even consider getting a cheap snake hook off eBay .. just to direct his ‘teeth’ away from your hand when you pick it up . Then quickly sit down , maybe have a blanket ready and place the snake down on your lap .
Let it stay there , just gently stroking or touching it occasionally