I just acquired a little male pastel hatchling over the weekend. He was as calm as could be at first but today when I went to handle him he was striking at me and hissing up a storm. I did not let that discourage me from holding him. You are a snake keeper and you will be bitten at some point. Little ones can be like this due to the fact that they are just babies. Please do not let this make you afraid. Snakes can sense we are nervous or scared and that just makes them more nervous.