I only force feed those that will not eat what I am willing and able to offer, so they are going to die without intervention. I have found that if you are able to keep them healthy long enough through force feeding, most will start feeding on their own within a month or less. However, I have heard of people force feeding for many months before the babies started on their own (if ever), although those are the extreme examples.



I have sold many non-feeders (cheaply!!) to those (even inexperienced keepers, but with time on their hands) who wanted to put in the time and effort, and they were often quite successful, although not 100% successful, in getting non-feeders to feed after a few force feedings.



I do believe that the feeding response is inherited like other personaltiy components though. Not a simple recessive trait like amel, but a group of traits that make up the personality of an animal or human. So I generally do not keep problem feeders back for future breeders, unless the baby is something really special that is needed in my project. Otherwise, why take a chance? But a "reformed" problem feeder can certainly make a fine pet.

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