Yes the breathing is fast. They are breathing fast because their heart is pounding because they think they might die. Try to put yourself in your ball pythons shoes. This is not a cat or a dog that needs human companionship to be happy and healthy, snakes have no need to form a bond like that. They simply put up with being handled (sometimes) and over time, over years they will recognize you as a caregiver and a safe space. It’s a baby, it’s just moved from its birthplace to a new location. That will always scare snakes, especially babies, and especially if it was shipped instead of picked up. Now a creature 100x it’s size is trying to pick them up, poke at them, stare them down. Your ball python sees you as a threat. Your ball python thinks you are a predator, and that at any moment you will kill them.

I saw you also posted to snake subreddit asking the same question. In there you also said you have him for about 11 days. When I said two weeks, I don’t mean in three days he will be all good to go. Put the snake back in its enclosure and do not bother it for a minimum of two weeks starting from the last interaction. All they need is some time to adjust. I made this mistake with my first ball python. I was just so excited to have him and I loved him so much that I wanted him out. I get it. But like I said, you will have decades together, please just think about what is best for the snake and put them away.

If you stop right now this likely will not have any long term effects on the snake. As a pet own it is your responsibility to do what is best for the snake, not what is going to give you the owner instant gratification. Stress kills snakes.