EGG FLAT PLACEMENT

Here it is I'm finally explaining and showing this Highly classified Top Secret method, LOL . I have spent hours and hours experimenting and researching this, as my OCD takes me to these places that I hope prevents others from going.

I have tried every method possible, from the cardboard cutouts, to the glue. to cutting the center bubble out in the middle. I've done tests where I've timed the roaches to get through the egg crates from one side of the tank to the other trying to find the food,

There are many thing to consider here. With the most important in my mind being mobility. The ability to get from one side of the tank to the other. My set-ups are created and maintained to have radiant heat variants, in other-words having a wide range of temps, I like to have a gradient of 20 degrees. ranging from 95 to about 75. Now, most of us that have multiple reptiles or roaches It's much easier and more practical to designate a room and keep the entire room at one temp, that way you save yourself multiple heaters and other equipment along with electricity, but I feel you are at a real disadvantage when you have your entire bin or enclosure at one temp, Actually I know your at a disadvantage.

When I was running all my tests for the nutrient requirement of Dubias ( Check tabs at the top of the homepage for that info in the next few days ) I learned a lot about their needs for temps and sociology among themselves as well.

At different stages in their development their requirements for heat are different, for example molting, most of the time the dubia roaches will stay in spots that are 86-88 degrees if they are able to decide for themselves, so the farthest spot from that point is 11 degrees or 75F, so very few roaches use that space regularly, that gives the molting roaches some safe harbor in that real estate. They are able to stay away from others, allowing their newly molted exoskeleton to harden without the others trampling on them, or biting them causing wing issues for adult males. Many times newly molted roaches get attacked for moisture at this vulnerable stage because their exoskeleton is very soft, this is about the only time ( their teeth and jaws are constructed for eating leafs and soft plant matter) that other roaches can damage or kill them by biting or chewing on them, This is just one example, as I could list many more but that's a different discussion. READ TAB ON RIGHT

There are 2 types of egg Flats or egg Crates. There is a huge difference, see from the pictures below the one on the top is what I call a "quad", the one on the bottom I call it a "single". They both have 2 borders that are flat and 2 borders that have notches. Lets start with the quad, these are much harder to find and the superior egg flat for sure. The quads are found in bulk egg raw eggs, in others words, you can find these in restaurants or from purchasing raw eggs in bulk. These have all been in contact with eggs at one time or another and you can often find a shell or residue of a broken egg on them. These have a much highler likelihood of containing salmonella. I have never seen the quads for sale other then second hand on craigslist or from someone getting them from a restaurant. Now the single egg flat, These are typically purchased by themselves in large packs and have never seen them with actual eggs (Im a chef and dietician and have spent alot of time in restaurants and around food).

All egg flats should be matched with another one making it a pair or set. I use 18gl totes for my grow out bins and 55gl glass tanks for my breeders. So in my 18gl tote I use 6 pairs or 12 egg flats. in my 55gl I use three rows of 6 pairs or 12 flats . Now the tricky part, there are two sides to an egg flat a pointy side and a flat side. Each pair consists of 2 egg flats pointy side touching or together with the notches offset see pick 4. Then each pair it matched by the flat sides touching notches offset. This means when you make a row every other egg flat should have the notches going the same way. The problem is two single can not be matched, I match a single and a quad together.However if you have enough quads or have access to enough, they can be matched together.

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I'M CONSIDERING STARTING A WEEKLY BLOG WITH UPDATED INFO AND TEST/EXPERIMENT RESULTS ON TOPICS OF YOUR CHOICE . If I get 75 requests ill put it together. Use the contact" tab at right below this box and tell me you want to be on the list for weekly blog. Please pass the word and if I can get enough interest ill be glad to share a lot of the secrets that I have learned and the myths that I know are BS

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EGG FLAT PLACEMENT

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