More geckos lost to coachwhips. This time, the snakes didn't wait. As soon as the geckos moved, the coachwhips cued on the movement and grabbed them. A chase of about three inches, and the snakes overtook the fleeing lizards with ease. Next time, mice.
I know that one can sometimes keep a juvie snake awake all winter--I do it the first winter with my hatchling corns and kings to move along their growth. After the autumn changeover settles down, most snakes will resume feeding for the winter, going off feed again in spring for a few weeks. Winter cooling is a nice break for the keeper, though, and is good for the animals. I expect I'll fatten up these little gecko nightmares and tuck them in with the rest of the colubrids.
