eating too much?

[HMT]

I seem to have the opposite problem of most people. My BP loves to eat.

My male BP is about 2.5 years old, and has reliably eaten whatever I offer him every week of his life. (lucky me, I know!) Lately he has been ravenous though, and is "hunting" every few days. I switched him up to the next size prey (from adult mice to f/t small rats) and he still "hunts" every 3-4 days. He also will attempt to strike at me if I reach into his tank, unless he's asleep or recently fed. The striking is a new and undesired behavior.

I don't believe he will be able to eat larger rats-the rats he is eating now are about the same size as his widest part. My questions are this:

Is it ok for me to feed him whenever he seems hungry, or should I stick to the once-a-week schedule? Is this a growth spurt/ phase?(and if so, how long do you think it will last?) How can I reduce the striking behavior? I know snakes are not cuddly pets, but I don't want to end up with a snake that cannot be handled.

Thanks for the help,
Heidi