Hey there duck!

I have a solution for your consideration on your screen issue. So long as the screens will be held together by pressure, why not use something softer and flexible like weather stripping (plastic or felt) or a gasketing material between the two??? Then you could add enough to make a tight enough seal so your babies don't get out, and when you squish (love my technical terms, right?) the screens together, it would have enough give not to pinch the cords of the filter.

Now, on exactly WHAT product to use, I cannot offer guidance. James and Ernestine are my first two garters, so I have not experienced the full wrath of what these little escape artists can do. I'm sure that people on this forum might be able to poke around their local home centers, next trip in, and make some suggestions on what would be firm enough.

I saw a thumbscrew on the top of one of the screens, if they don't hold together with pressure, you can always come up with a latch or something to hold them. We'll burn that bridge when we get there!