Ball python now aggressive

Question
QUESTION: I have had this BP for almost 2 years.  He is about 2 ft long, I rescued him from my employer (pet store).  He eats fine and has never shown aggression toward me until now.  I leave him alone during his shed only changing his water.  Now, I even start to slide the lid open on his tank, he comes out and moves toward my hand & the top of the tank.  He has struck at me twice but did not make contact.  I have wrapped my hand in a clean towel and used round end bbq tongs to get him out of his tank so I can clean it and when I feed.  I have always fed him in a separate container.  I let him rest before I feed him and I do not touch the feeder (I use frozen).  I just don't understand why he has suddenly become so aggressive.  I love him dearly but if this continues I cannot keep him for fear he will turn his aggression toward my child and other animals.  Do you have any suggestions on how to get him back to how he use to be?

ANSWER: My guess is that he is hungry.  You don't mention how much you are feeding or if he is still agressive after you have him out of the tank.  AT 2 years he should be eating one medium sized rat or more per week.  If he's still just getting one mouse...  He might be trying to tell you something.  Once he's out of the cage and you're holding him does he calm down?  

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QUESTION: He is on a 4 day feeding cycle. I feed him 1 medium mouse and I have offered up a pinkie afterward when he was showing aggression.  Now he doesn't want the 2nd offering.  He is aggressive after feeding when I go to get him out of his feeding tank.  I haven't tried to actually hold him before or after because I really don't want to get bit.

Answer
Ball pythons should never be fed pinkies.  I start baby balls on hopper mice.  At 2 years old they are eating medium or larger rats.  So fix the feeding problem first.  Next, get a pair of heavy garden gloves and hold the snake.  Don't forget, snakes are stupid! He probably just forgot he was tame and/or you aren't a threat.