I cant answer your question since I have a similiar problem. My dummerils is very aggressive when food smell is in the air and strikes like crazy. She is so over excited that she strikes so fast and hard that she misses, She seems to get frustrated and then gives up. So she has done this the last few feedings. I have left the prey with her and she doesnt eat it. She wants it warm and fresh not sitting there going cold. So my problem is now she is just aggressive period, where before she was the tamest snake ever. I am afriad to handle her now, I think she might be aggressive cuase shes hungry.