See, I love hearing all of your answers because they just prove snakes do indeed have individual personalities. My girl was 3 months old when I got her, so pretty young, but I have no idea what she was like as a neonate/ hatchling. She didn't even ball the first two days I had her, but she was very defensive and struck at me when I opened the box and put her in her new home. But since then, she has been very sweet and never defensive or terrified apparently. I wonder if her first defensive strikes, obviously the result of shipping stress, were indicative of her personality. She seems more inclined to hold her ground rather than shrink away in fear. And on the other hand, I have seen countless unboxing videos where the snake comes out in an adorable little terrified ball. That is what I was expecting, but she came out swinging! I loved her immediately. haha

Anyway, she has been a great snake, but never lives up to the ball python name.