They tame up pretty well but are allert and will lash out with a strike if aggitated. Don't go waving a finger in front of them if you want to keep it in tact. As far as general handling goes, they are usually quite docile animals. They may be a little combative about leaving the cage but that's typical with snakes anyway. What you have to understand is, they can't process thoughts the way we do or even close. All they know is that they are in a happy place and are not being bothered. Any change that they don't control is uncertain to them and they would prefer to be left alone. Once you pick them up and let them anchor and they regain security, then they are happy again and may become combative about being placed back in the very spot that they felt secure in moments earlier. They don't seem to really have much in the way of even short term memory. This theory is also the reason that I believe prekilled or frozen thawed prey should never be a major issue with any snake. I don't believe they have the mental capacity to know they didn't kill the rat themselves anyway and just forgot
It's like...oh duhh food...I must have killed that earlier ...slurp.
