I think it does depend on the snake and this is always with any kind of snake too!! My friend has 2 red tail boas and her's is a male and is very tame, sweet and she has a hard time sometimes getting it to eat and when it does its not nippy afterwards, but her brothers RTB is a good eater and is a female and she can be nippy afterwards and she is growing very fast and almost to fast!! But otherwise they are great snakes but as babies it just depends on the snake and I think how much you handle it. Melissa