Ball python hatchling just diarrhea'd all over me?

[Bogertophis]

Do you think his personality is naturally defensive/jerk or do you think we can eventually get to that sweet calm personality?

I've personally influenced many "defensive/jerk" snakes into reliably sweet ones...only a small percentage (very "high strung" types) stay that way, in my experience, and the odds are against you having one, especially a BP.

But first, it helps to change YOUR mindset: you adopted a snake, not a puppy or a kitten, & NOT a "domestic animal". Even c/b snakes are "wild" in the sense that they rely on their instincts that evolved in nature & over time...LOTS of time. He IS "defensive" but he is NOT a "jerk". And btw, if his stool continues to truly be watery "diarrhea"please do get him (w/ stool sample) checked by the vet...he might need treatment for parasites or something, ok? Diarrhea is not normal, but without seeing it, I cannot be sure how accurate your description is.

Many years ago I took in an unwanted (free) BCI that changed homes a number of times in her first year of life because she persisted in biting everyone repeatedly, & they were not homes without snake experience...they just lacked patience & empathy. She wasn't my first rodeo either & I named her Snookums, because it made me picture her like the "baby" she was "inside". She never bit me even once in all the years I had her: oh, she dearly wanted to, for the first maybe 2 months, until I patiently showed her she had nothing to fear from me. After that, she was reliably tame, & lived a good healthy life because of it (stress isn't good for animals either).

Her name always made me smile, & it did the same for others who met her when she was huge & theoretically scary...she was friendly with everyone, not just me. If that's your idea of a pet snake, then try to remember how your snake is feeling: his whole world changed without his consent or understanding, & his instincts didn't prepare him for an "owner", much less a giant with so many frightful moving parts.