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[BugToxin]

I got my first snake about three weeks ago. He is a beautiful and healthy baby normal ball python. My question is on handling, as I have no previous snake experience and I want to do it right.

I waited a good week before handling at all, and know not to handle for a couple of days following a feeding. When I finally did handle him he was as timid as you would expect a ball python to be, balling up first, and then relaxing a little bit within 10 minutes or so. I have limited my handling to about three times a week for 15 minutes a session. Each time I hold him, he seems to get a little bit more relaxed, but then again it could just be me who is getting more relaxed.

Here is the strange part. The snake likes to hang outside his hide in the evening (he hides during the day), but he strikes at me when I come close to the glass. He will usually do this several times, often slamming his head against the glass. If I open the cage and pick him up at this point he doesn't bite (not yet anyway), but does the normal ball python thing (balls up). He has never actually bitten me yet, but has struck at one hand from the other hand as I was placing him back in the cage after handling. He also did this at the checkout when I was buying him (BTW He is captive bred and from a trusted source). Anyway, is this normal behavior for a baby ball python, or is my boy more aggressive than most? Will this aggression subside with regular handling? Finally, should I be doing anything different?

Thanks in advance for your advice.