think about it....

you are a hatchling snake, a giant animal reaches to grap you......what else can you do but strike and defend yourself for the predator?

Just let the little guy settle in for a while.....did you give him a good 1 week to 2 week period with no handling so that he can get used to his new surroundings? Did you get him to feed for you 2 or 3 times before you started handling? If not, you need to give the little guy a break and get him eating regularly before any handling takes place. Inconsistent feeding and aggressive behavior are usually a sign of stress. Check your setup to make sure you have all the correct temps, make sure you have at least two hides in the enclosure, and stop handling for a while and everything should work itself out. Hope that helps