Two of my hatchlings were very defensive as soon as they were set up in their little tubs after hatching. With one it was mostly hissing loudly and posturing, but she would calm down as soon as lifted out.
The other one actually rushed to the front of the tub as soon as I opened it, ready to rumble !!! I didn't do any handling to tame them. But what I did do is open the tub frequently, simply to either clean it or attempt to feed them or get a weight. Just maintenance things. When I did have to take them out I always gently put my flat hand on them from above. Apply VERY GENTLE pressure on their heads and body, basically just a calming touch to snap them out of their pissy state. Then I immediately picked them up. If they would go back to being pissy (s-curve, tense, huffing, staring, ready to tag) they would get cupped once again with the other hand from above with gentle pressure, and that is usually all it took. All handling and touching should be GENTLE but deliberate. Within a couple times of handling them this way they were over the defensiveness.
The most pissy/defensive one ended up being the BEST pet BP anyone could ask for. I gifted him to a worker at the barn where I board my horse at, so I hear about Monty regularly. The owner adores that snake. Monty is bold and curious and doesn't display any of the shy behavior BP's are known for. He has never even been head shy. You can literally touch his head and he won't pull back. Never a problem eating, either. And no aggressiveness at all.
I find the hatchlings with a bit of sass the best ones. Once calmed down they loose the pissyness but usually keep the bold and curious aspect of their personality. The hatchlings that are "super sweet" are usually just very shy and scared and harder to get to eat.
Don't be afraid to handle him. Just don't over do it for now. But when you need to do maintenance or you want to weigh him or look him over, just take him out, make him deal with it, keep it short and sweet and return him homeHe will quickly realize that you are no threat and you are also not intimidated by his tough act
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