New ball python

Hi everyone. Yesterday I went to a reptile show in Maryland and bought a 4 year old killer bee breeder ball python. I went to pick him up this morning and he let me pick him up, but, he was constantly hissing at me.
Now is this because he does not know me yet? Could it mean something else?

Probably really stressed out from the reptile show, the move to his new home... Your supposed to leave them alone for at least a week with no handling outside of tank maintenece so they can get used to and comfortable with the new home and surrounding

For any new animals i always leave them alone for two weeks. I just makes sure i keep them clean and watered but leave them be. He also has to have a chance to acclimate to you too. It will take a bit of time but i'm sure he will come around. :gj:

Yea he's just stressed out. You shouldn't handle them for at least a week and in fact I don't handle them until they've ate at least once.

being that its an older male, your likely not going to see him detox from the stress for a couple of weeks. just ignore him other then water, heat, and waste checks, and he will explore at his own rate his new enclosure and get used to your normal activities and that will allow him to mellow out.

congrats on the new snake. he is stressed. i moved one of my females to a different home recently. after i got her set up i took her out to clean her belly really quick and she struck at my face...like directly at my face haha. She has never hissed or struck at me once. When they are stressed the behavior changes.