They can be nippy as babies, pick him up anyway and when he realises that puffing and striking doesn't mean you leave him alone he'll calm down. He just needs to learn that you're not going to eat him!
Hi there break through tonight came home sonny the boa had shed out old skin 16ins. Gloved up and went in had a stroke or to no hiss or strikes he is now curled on his log i have a baby mouse on defrost for later thanks for you advise many thanks.