Escaping crickets from Exo terra models

[Jason]

I was wondering how the hell i was finding large feeder crickets around my house cirping and bounceing around, i figured when the guy at the LPS said the Exo line of tanks where escape proof ( in regards to crickets ) he ment it. untill this morning and was wondering if im just missing a part or everyone has this problem... At the back of this line of tanks are to sliding bars to cover or expose 6 holes for tubing 3 left and 3 on the right, inbetween these two slides is a tiny 2 inch hump, that leads right into my tank, i was misting today and removed the lighting box and low and behold a cricket looking out at me and upon further investigation i noticed this hump that can easily accommodate the need of an escaping medium sized cricket and his buddys. I have put tape over this stupid escape route but is there a item i need to buy to cover this up or is it ment for something else alltogether or a design flaw?

[froggsong]

wow, I have no idea if that is part of the design (I don't own one of those), but that is crappy. You could put a small piece of plexi over it if you want. That way if you ever come up with a use for that opening, you can take the plexi off and use it.

[Jason]

Nothing but tape will work as i have been brainstormin all day. i could break off some 1/8 dowl and cram it in but like you said i may find a use for it eventually.

[acpart]

I have taken wet paper towels and crammed them at the top of the background where there is a gap that lets the crickets get behind the background. When the paper towel dries it hardens like papier mache so they can't get into that area at all.

Aliza

[froggsong]

hey, that's actually a pretty good idea. It would probably work with toilet paper too, maybe even better than paper towels, since it's thinner.

[Evilwezal]

Toilet paper will break down fast. its designed to be that way so you can flush it. Paper towel would prolly be best.

[froggsong]

Toilet paper wont break down fast unless it stays WET all the time, we have used it before in art classes for paper mache. Of course, if it is a tropical vive, then that might be an issue. But when using toilet paper, as long as it is very wet when you put it where you want, and it is allowed to completely dry, it dries almost hard as a rock.

[Jason]

Im just going to open the slides all the way up and grab some 5/16" 304 or 316Stainles and grind it down to fit in the holes, I got to thinking that my background was to low, and that gap at the top is supposed to be at the bottom to accommodate hoses and things of that nature.

[Green Ghost]

I don't own any exoterras but I know what you mean my the "tubing holes" and the area around there.

Use silicone? It should stick to the plastic, but you should also be able to remove it quite easily later.

[Jason]

oooooo.O.o good idea GG, a little bab should do meh thinks..