some good information in the above posts, some but not all the very young ball pythons will go thru a nippy stage. they will strike and some will bite everything that moves in front of them. If you do nothing than just feed, water and clean their enclosure, most will grow out of it with no handling and instead of striking they will just hiss. I have many hatchlings each year and don't handle very much and if any, it doesn't amount to anything. and this is what I see. if you want to pick the snake up, gentle tap it with something that's not sharp and come from the back where it's harder for them to strike. at first when you handle the snake. make it for short periods as this is stressful on them until they get use to it. you don't want a young snake going off feed from too much handling. hope this helps. don