A ball python is a great snake that will often become tame enough to sit quietly in your lap while you watch TV.
All snakes are individuals, and some INDIVIDUALS can be temperamental and prone to bite. But most ball pythons are very docile, and would rather hide their head than strike if they are frightened. Hatchlings can be nippy--understandably, they are scared of most everything. This is true of hatchlings of all species of snakes, though.
Ball pythons will spend most of their time resting quietly in their hide--usually all day, and part of the night. You can take them out to interact with them--so long as they're eating regularly, and behaving normally, it won't do them harm.
I would keep handling of a hatchling down to about 30 minutes per day, max, after they're eating regularly for you. Adults can be out for an hour or so. I wouldn't recommend handling for excessively long periods on a regular basis.
The most important thing to remember is that the ball python needs to be warm. Room temperatures in most homes are only around 70F. That is 10 degrees too cool for a ball python. Holding the ball python close will help keep it warm, but it's still breathing cold air while you have it out, so keep handling sessions appropriately short. Breathing cold air for long periods of time could lead to respiratory infection. (Either that, or keep the room at 80F, lol). Also be aware that temperatures above 90F can be deadly.
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