I'd guess the self-biting is also tied to the "try to eat it"
response you're seeing but I wouldn't test the idea that the snake would not eat a cage mate right now.
As for eating a potential mate during the breeding season, the reverse is far more likely; females are in a manic feed mode and that male is a meal you just dropped into the cage. (it's quite true-be sure the female is very well fed)
Remember males are typically off feed during the annual breeding frenzy so pose little risk to females.
-Jeff
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Let there be triangulum and lo, the milkhead was born.

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