Sudden Aggression???

[peregrinefalcon]

My sumatran blood has been very nice and calm for the last few weeks I've had him, except for one little hiss when I sprayed him. But today when I looked in at him he was laying his head outside of the hiding spot. He then quickly pulled it back and struck at me, and hit his jaw on the way out. I took him out about an hour later and he was his calm tame self again. Just a few minutes ago I went down and looked at him again and he struck at me again and hit his head aginst the hide on the way back. When I had him out his skin kind of looked looser and duller then usual. Does this mean he is shedding? And is the aggression because of him shedding? Should I hold him when he is shedding or is it bad for their skin? And one last one, is he going to hurt himself by smacking his head against things in his tank? I'm just kind of worried because he hasn't even shown aggression against his mice yet! Although he is eating very heartily! Thank you very much!
Adam

[Lisa]

It's not unusual for a snake to get grumpy when shedding, and handling won't hurt him but he obviously doesn't like it so you could stress him out, not to mention wacking himself against the glass or hide probably isn't pleasant. As the eyecaps start to loosen they're eyesite goes from bad to worse, so you can immagine why they get stressed.