Thanks so much, that's a great playlist!
Of course after posting this and reading about behavior and things, this morning he was out and about so I opened the lid and he stepped right onto my hand to give me a good sniff, just like that. I didn't try to pet him or take him all the way out, and he just went back in and continued whatever snake activities he was doing. I don't think he necessarily wants "out" when he does that but it's very cool that he was confident enough to approach me, even in blue when he can't see well (I wonder if this is why he needed a good up close sniff, to make sure this was his usual housekeeping visitor?) You just never know lol