it usually takes a year or more before the neonates start to grow out of their defensive stage. my 2011 red neo behaves like he's evil incarnate. he will strike any time I open his tub unless he's buried his head in his coils and can't physically see me. on the opposite end of the spectrum, my adult sorong x jayapura is as docile as I've ever known a chrondo to be. he's never so much as hissed at me. I will say that his hunting mode is still somewhat intimidating, and I usually give him a spray down before handling so he knows I'm not bringing dinner, but overall couldn't ask for a better snake. I'm hoping the neonate is just manifesting some of his 'growing pains' with the aggression, but only time will tell. either way he'll look just as great in a display cage some day soon.