So I was wondering what would cause a python to strike at me, and then minutes later, refuse to eat?

I was at my friends apartment, and we were feeding his snakes. He has a 6ft albino burmese named Orchid. Well, he had just placed her in to the bathtub to feed her. I was sitting on the toilet watching her, when I saw her looking at me. Suddenly, she struck at me. Like 1/4 or so of her body was out of the tub, with her mouth wide open. Luckily I jumped out of the way, but it was one of the scariest things I've been through. My friend brought a rat in to feed her minutes later, and she wasn't interested at all.

I don't understand why she did this, as she has never been anything but gentle towards me.
Is it possibly that she didnt like the pattern on my shirt? The colors? Anything like this?

Perhaps she was just moody?
Needless-to-say, I will be little shy around her for a bit, but I'll get over it.

Probably striking out of fear. Something was not making her happy that day.

Or since there was feeding going on, she went into feeding mode, sensed your heat and motion and went for it.
When they go into feeding mode they become focused on that, anything is considered a target.
Thats how keepers get bitten by otherwise completely docile snakes!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Thats a good point, the only time I have been tagged was during a feeding. Otherwise they are totally fine.

When my boys pull a stunt like that they won't eat afterwards, as they become very upset. I don't know the exact reasons, but once they've tried to strike out, they will not eat afterward, even when I know they're hungry. I just give them a few calm days and try again. One theory I've heard is because the energy levels in the room are so changed due to the upset of trying to avoid the strike or possible fear on the persons part the snake becomes afraid to eat or do anything for a little while.

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Kat