Thinking a couple months ahead

So right now I have one clutch in the incubator and maybe one more on the way for this season. I have some 2011 virgin females that I'm looking forward to pairing for the 2013/2014 season. Some have been picky eaters, especially one that only randomly eats since hitting the 1000 gram mark nearly 8 months ago:O. Lately they've started to eat more consistent and should be ready to go this year.

So say they gain 100-200 grams by October, would they be ready to pair or should I still wait till they are 1500 grams? And in your experience do females continue to pound food throughout the breeding season up until they lay?
Thanks

Pictures?

Quote:

---

in your experience do females continue to pound food throughout the breeding season up until they lay?
Thanks

---

Some do some don't depends on the individual.

Most of my females will go in a feeding frenzy end of august through november then back to a more regular appetite, to a complete stop when they ovulate.

Some will stop eating soon as I introduce a male.

I can get better pics of them not coiled in a day or so when they finish digesting their meals but here are a couple pics...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94...ps70609998.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94...ps460d85b7.jpg

The two females I was able to pair this year were eating well after I started pairing them, but thats all I can go off of.

Another question is when in 2011 they hatched...January or December? You'll want to take semi-exact age, weight, and body condition into account before deciding to pair them. Personally, I would take the "it'd be nice, but not banking on it" approach if they're likely to only be ~1200-1300g and spotty eaters.

Unfortunately I dont know exact hatch dates. I think the the first female hatched between Sept-Nov and its possible the second hatched after that. I'm in no rush to pair them at the beginning of the season if they aren't up to size.