I don't think I would call them ferocious lol. It seems if you are nervous, the snake is nervous. I know with Caesar when I got him, I was worried about getting bit and it showed with him too as he was kind of cautious when I got near him. He never tried to bite though. Now its been over a year and I just reach in and pet him and then move him if needed and in the evenings, he comes right out and right up to me with no hesitation and climbs on my arm or sits his head on my arm or under my arm while I pet him. He doesn't really like to be carried around though. He loves to sit next to me or climb out of his cage and play all over the floor and stuff but like I said, he not like my big boas who seem to like to sit on me.