Quote Originally Posted by ConcinnusMan View Post
Yes, use the light right from the start. Make sure they get a certain light only at feeding time, every time. It could take a while (if it happens at all) for them to associate the light with feeding time. My only concern with the light conditioning is that the bulb produces a light wavelength (color) that they can see, and that light (color) is not something they would see when it's not feeding time. Know what I mean? I don't know about using red though. Red to you can be invisible to them, and the bulb could produce light that they see as ordinary, thus defeating the purpose.

I'm still having a hard time with what you are trying to prove. Is it that you want to prove that they can be conditioned to expect food by a specific, unusual visual cue rather than scent? If that is so, you might want to re-think the plan and find another way to cue them. As far as I'm concerned, it has already been proven.

Even with no food smell around at all, I used to rub my index finger and thumb together close where they could see.(like I'm playing the worlds smallest violin) I always did that to get them interested, then went into the other room to get their food, then fed them. Once they figured that out, all I had to do was rub my fingers together in that certain way, and they would instantly go nuts, expecting food. It took about 5 or 6 years to get them fully conditioned like that, but I'm convinced it worked. They didn't react with a feeding response to normal handling and finger movements. Only after recognizing that one specific finger action, they would practically start striking even with no food around.
I don't think the light color is of a great importance. They will see the movement(burning) of the light no matter what color it is. I will probably use white not red as I know they react to it.

I'm trying to prove, with a documented experiment that they can be conditioned. I already know they can but not in the way this experiment would do. Just appling an old principal to a different animal. One most people would not associate with this type of response.