I have to agree with Kim and Meg. I've worked with single animals for an hour at a time before. When they take flight is when it's time to give up. Sometimes 7-10 minutes isn't long enough to get them really worked up. I also wouldn't recomment refreezing feeders. If you don't want to throw them away, get a brooks kingsnake. They will eat anything you give them and more.
As far as nose bumping goes, it's never worked for me, but rubbing the pink on the side of the mouth does work quite often. Quick movements to and from the chondro will also piss them off and initiate a strike response.....learned that one from Lord Walder.
When it comes to feeding time, I've found it depends on the individual animal. I usually feed with lights on. Some take a bit of coaxing and some need to wait about an hour after lights out, but most will feed at any time of the day......especially neonates. In my experience, neos are usually ready to strike as soon as they tubs is pulled out. Take into consideration this doesn't happen until they've had 6-8 feedings. After that, they are usually ready any time you want to feed them.
I'll also disagree with the notion that babies will get hungry and eventually eat. Not true. I've lost entire clutches because neos refusing to eat ANYTHING. Pinks, lizards, frogs, chick scent, ect. I've tried it all and I don't assist feed. They will starve themselves to death. These are usually the babies that absolutely will not strike at anything. They either tuck or run.
I don't understand the spraying and moving to the hotspot either. I let them sit where they choose. I usually don't spray until after everything is done eating. I've noticed it tends to make them hide away until lights have been out for some time. When you have a large collection, feeding can take a long time and there's no need to drag it out further. Simple is just that.....simple. I think people make chondros more complicated than they need to.
BTW Kim, Amy found that photo online somewhere. I thought it was pretty funny.
Sorry I'm too lazy to log in with my own name. I'll just keep using Amy's old one til I feel like switching. lol.
Brandon Osborne
