One thing i wanted to point out is, when you grabbed your ball python. it was fine. it didn't strike at you. then you get the pool que and start poking it in the face.
you do realize it wasn't pissed off until you started messing with it. you should be teasing it like that. and its now your own fault its stressed right out.
if it was overly aggressive then it would have bitten you when you grabbed for it. your pretty much digging your own hole deeper the way your treating it.