Like I've said, FR and Will are entitled to their views, but I will no longer respond. I will just express mine.

Greg I did not mention you, because I believe even if you disagree with some or all of what I say, you still will find it interesting (and I might need your help with my idea



In part one, I said I believe there are many factors that can cause or, maybe it would be better to phrase that as, result in egg binding.

Now I would like to say why I think the appropriate "nest box" helps.

I have include pics of how I set up mine this year and a feel good pic of what we like to see



I will preface my hypothesis by admitting it is just that - a theory that I have come to by observation.

It is absolutely fascinating to watch the female maneuver and manipulate the eggs towards the exit with lateral, undulating movements.

I believe the key word is MECHANICS, or put another way, LEVERAGE.

Maybe a suitable analogy would be the difference between arm wrestling while holding the table with the other hand and arm wrestling without.

I do not believe the depth is so much the point (most of my girls laid close to the surface).

I think what they are looking for is the lateral support of the sides of their body while they utilize their muscles to maneuver the eggs and ultimately expel them.

I didn't just include the first picture because it's feely good; I wanted to illustrate what I see.

The female is gaining a lot of leverage as she pushed the eggs along, because she has compressed the substrate all around her.

I believe that this would mean the nature of the substrate is probably important too in this regard.

Another point that contributes to this view:

I and many breeders have found that many females, when presented with a nest box inside their enclosure, prefer to get behind the nest box and lay eggs between the nest box and the wall of their tub.

This might well be because it would help give them this mechanical advantage.

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