Two-year old skittish ball python

[Malum Argenteum]

I simply slid my hand under & into the hide with the snake, whereby I was able to reassure him by touch, & pick him up without any bites. I ended up with the snake- he was fine-

With my snappier neonate boas, I've gotten into the habit of holding an index card or similar in front of their face with one hand and going in from the side and underneath with my other to pick them up. They don't see the "aggressive" approach of my hand, and once they're in hand they're pretty chill. The same sort of approach works pretty well with snakes that see my incoming hand as food (which, after all, is in fact made of meat and so the snake's interpretation isn't unwarranted).