I recently acquired a ball python from my local pet store. He/She seems to be in good health. It's about 20 inches long, so it's a young one.

I have some handling questions. I've had him out 3 times so far (only have owned him 4 days). And he seems quite nervous and untrusting at the moment. The first time I had him out he balled up and hid his head and it took him several minutes to emerge from this position. And several minutes more to start moving around. I was very gentle.

The second time I took him outside in the grass and again it took him several minutes to start slithering around. His little tongue was flicking out like crazy. Once he started slithering, he only slithered away from me and had no interest in being held. I had to pick him up several times so he wouldn't get too far away. One of the times he whipped around and stared me down for about a minute. I did not move a muscle in that time to avoid a possible strike. He soon relaxed and I brought him inside. When I set him in his cage I accidentally bumped his nose a little on the aspen bedding and he whipped around and stared me down . My fault I know. He relaxed quickly and slithered out of my hands.

The next time I held him, he relaxed quicker and seemed to be looking for a place to hide in the blanket on my lap. I didnt want him to hide too deep into the blanket so I gently picked him up and he whipped around again and stared me down once again. I did not move a muscle (same old story) and he relaxed and I put him back in his cage without incident.

I have now decided not to hold him until his first feeding tomorrow when I have to remove him to his feeding area.

And advice on the best ways to get him to warm up to me? I have always been good with animals and I don't want him to dislike me or fear me.