Aggressive or Scared?

[wolfknot]

Hello! I recently got my first ball python last week, Sigma. He's 14 months old and is hopefully being fed tomorrow for the first time (of me owning him obv.)
However, I went to take him out 4 days after I got him (which might have been a lil too soon) and he nipped my finger. He didn't really...seem like he was aggressive? But ever since then I've gotten kind of anxious to take him out.
I'm aware he could have just been still getting used to his new home, I did have a ring on the finger he bit so that might have bugged him, and I didn't stroke him before I picked him up. But given I've never owned a snake before, I'm not really sure if he's aggressive or if I just scared him? I was able to take him out for a few minutes yesterday but I was kind of scared he was going to strike during the whole time.
Is there any way I can tell the difference between a BP about to strike and one just.... laying there? (I can tell when one is Obviously pissed off/being provoked.) Do you think he was just scared/stressed the first time and it was a one time thing?
I really like snakes and I've never been afraid of them but I get extremely anxious thinking about him biting me mostly because I don't want to be causing him stress/pain/etc. I want to try feeding him asap but I don't want to attempt that until I'm comfy enough moving him from tank to tank.
Also I want to move him from a tank to a tub, how long do you think I should wait before doing this? I don't want to cause him anymore stress...
(Also I'm sorry if this is in the wrong thread!! I wasn't sure if it went here or not.)

[BiggBaddWolf]

Sometimes juveniles tend to be nippy. Anything with a mouth CAN bite. If it helps get a pair of leather gloves to handle him with until you get used to handling him. He could have nipped for a lot of reason, mainly being if he was hungry, or if you had been handling rodents before handling your snake. If that may have been the case then just be sure you wash your hands after handling rodents. In my opinion there is no need to move him to another tank to feed him. I have always fed in the tanks they live in, and have never had a problem!! Also make sure your husbandry is spot on...if it isn't it could possibly be stressing out the snake. Anyway good luck with him

[Shera]

If he wasn't handled a lot previously and associates hands with feeding he may have thought that that was what was happening. I believe snakes are only aggressive when feeding, and other striking is defence because they are trying to ward off an attacker. There is no reason for a snake to be aggressive toward a human, only defensive.

If he is under about 700g or so, he's probably still a pretty aggressive feeder, I would go ahead and feed him soon, I find that BPs under about 1000g are pretty veracious feeders.

When you go to pick him up (try 48 hours after you feed) try to read his behaviour. If he is hovering his front end and in an "s" shape, he is probably scared and going to strike. Try picking him up more toward the back end, once they are in hand, they are usually much calmer.

Good Luck

[BenzieBox]

It just takes time for them to get used to you. Juveniles can be pretty nippy as someone stated above. I mean like most animals they have no idea what these giant pink things(your hands) are doing when they wrap around their body. Their first move is to protect themselves the only way they know how: striking at the thing that scares them.
Pick him up from towards the back. Just move slow. If he bites you and you put him back he's only going to catch on that biting will make you leave. That's a cycle you don't want to get started.
Good luck and just take it slow!