I know that hatchling ball pythons can be a bit nippy, but I have one bumblebee male that is simply put...psycho. I was trying to feed him last week and he hasn't eaten since hatching a little after Mid-September. I put the mouse in the tub and he not really interested in the mouse at all. Instead, he looks up at me, opens his mouth and just sits there, staring at me. I move pick up the mouse with the tongs and he lunges at me, full body flipping over with the force of the strike. He immediately rights himself and swivels around to face me. Again, he opens his mouth, ready to bite me the moment I'm within range. This little dance goes on for over 5 minutes. I've just never seen a ball python open its mouth as a way of threatening someone before. Usually they just strike, but this little guy was trying his hardest to bite me. (A week prior to this, he had bitten my finger). This week when I was trying to feed him, he kept striking the mouse, coiling it for a second, then letting it go.

Normally, I'm just find and dandy with aggressive babies. The only thing is, this male is supposed to be going to a friend of mine. She's used to extremely laid back snakes.

Has anyone ever had a hatchling this aggressive calm down once they start eating?