that is natural behavior and i prefer it when choosing hatchlings. it's either fight or flight. i'd rather have a nippy baby rather than one that immediately tucks into a ball at the first sign of danger. i tend to have no feeding issues with the nippers. and the times that i encounter a reluctant eater, it's usually one of the shy snakes.....i can't say it holds true all the time, just sharing what i observed.....