Help my new snake hissed

[Chabug]

Hello about a month ago I got my first ball python. I let him be for a week then handled him like I'm supposed to and he was doing fine. I fed him for the first time but when I tried to do it the second time he wouldn't eat it, the next week I fed him and he ate but when I tried to pick him up a couple days after he hissed at me. I thought he might be Hungry so I fed him again and he ate. I left him to digest and today I tried to pick him up again and he hissed at me. He is still new and still not compleatly comfortable and a little scared of me still. I'm not really sure what is wrong and I don't want him to hate me.
Maybe I'm just over reacting and should just let him be for a while but I want to keep handling him so he gets used to it.
Help?

[craigafrechette]

First off, welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snake keeping.

I always advise new keepers to let their snake get three consecutive meals without refusal before handling.
Getting the snake eating properly is priority number one.

In order to help with the hissing issue, we'll need more info. Tell us about your set-up and husbandry. The more you share, the better we can help. Your snake is likely stressed and husbandry could be the reason.

What is the age and weight of the snake?
What size and type of enclosure are you using?
How are you heating the enclosure?
VERY IMPORTANT: ARE YOUR HEAT SOURCES REGULATED BY A THERMOSTAT???
What are your temps?
How are you measuring temps? And where?
What is your humidity? How are you measuring?
Do you have proper hides? How many?
Is fresh water being offered?
What type/size prey are you feeding? How often?
Is the enclosure in a high traffic area in the house?

Again, the more info you share, the better we can help you.

[EL Ziggy]

Welcome to the forum C-bug. I agree with Craig. Make sure your husbandry is dialed in and let the animal eat a few times before starting your handling sessions. As he settles in he'll most likely calm down. Other than that it sounds like normal defensive behavior for a new snake.

[Scubadiver59]

Get a Southern Pine sometime...hisses all the time!