My tank is too high?

Yea, but then he's really active till about 11am.. and when I handled him he was abit nippy, though I'm a massive newb to handling snakes and I'm really nervous when I try handle him (I only try once a day - every 2 days). I feel that because I'm agitated he gets agitated too and then I fear that he'll bite me and I don't know tbh .. Have any good tips for handling him? Like how to pick him up if he's facing away from me pr straight towards me?

Be confident, hesitation only gives him more time to take a swing at you... and even if he does, a bite from a Bp doesn't hurt very much at all. it is far more surprising than painful. (in fact the first time I got bit I didn't even realize what had happened until I looked down at my hand)

Picking him up when his head isn't facing you is generally a better idea, but it really doesn't matter either way.

Be careful and don't grab him, rather pick him up and sit him in your open palm. If you restrict his movement too much he will get defensive. You want to support as much of his body as you can. This will help make him feel secure.

Over time you will learn to read your Bp and that will help with handling. Before you know it you will be able to reach into the cage without a second thought to grab him.

Thanks man, yea I just gotta be more confident :) Is it fine to just lift the hide and pick him up, or should I lift it and give him a few seconds .. or should I wait until he's out and about in his tank?

I lift the hide up, and grab the BP... as I said before the more time you give them the more time they have to take a swing at you.

You do have to judge every situation, as time goes on you will gain experience (sometimes that hard way) and that will let you judge what's best better. Just remember that worst case he bites you, and that really doesn't hurt (a cat/dog/rodent bite, even a mild one is far worse than a BP's worst bite) Trust me once you get bit for the first time you will laugh at how worked up you got about it lol I think everybody in this hobby has to have that moment at some point.

Great advice, thanks man :) yea, I'm just waiting for the moment when he bites me xD just want to get it out of the way and get him to bite me to be honest haha

I strongly advise to secure your thermostat probe. If it's just laying there it will be easily moved and will in turn cause temps to spike and me inconsistent. I always prefer to secure the probe directly onto the UTH and then read temps from within (UNDER the substrate...as it would be the hottest) and adjust as needed, however if temps in your house are consistent then it shouldn't need to be altered at all. The hottest spot in the entire tank (which would be above the glass above the UTH) should not exceed the normal 88-92 degrees for ball pythons. You'll find yourself with a burnt snake if you don't secure that thing. If you insist on putting it inside the tank, then hot glue it to the bottom so that it cannot move (NOT tape or anything sticky).