Martin21114
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What are the minimum and ideal size tanks for 3 adult axolotls? 20 long and 40 breeder, or larger?
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Tank size for 3 axolotls
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arenaboy007
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I have 3 in a 15 gallon, but I'm sure there's a more ideal size.
binkiesbuns
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I believe the minimum recommendation is 10 gallons per adult axolotl
Chirple
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I'd agree with 10 minimum per adult.
They could co-exist in a smaller tank, but your likelihood of them mistaking each other for food increases and there's no way you could fit a decent number of hides for all of them in smaller than 10 gallons each. You're also making it harder on yourself in a smaller tank by increasing risk of toxic water conditions. Think about the waste to water ratio.
I started off with a 10 for one but moved to a 20 long because the ten just seemed too crowded. I could see two in the 20 long, but I know I'd end up getting at least a 30 after a few weeks.
Depending on the space in your house, you could make a 40 breeder or a 55 long work beautifully. If you can look at used deals in local pet stores or on Craigslist, you can find awesome deals. We often have tank + stand for under $200 here, usually 55 gallons (it's a common size for fish).
Something I didn't fully appreciate for a while was how much easier it is for me AND the take inhabitant to have a low waste:water ratio. Smaller systems are more likely to spike toxins or other wise have problems. I thought "no problem, I'm up to the challenge" but I wish I had more room for a bigger guppy tank because the 10 gallon setup they're in is a royal pain in the butt.
They could co-exist in a smaller tank, but your likelihood of them mistaking each other for food increases and there's no way you could fit a decent number of hides for all of them in smaller than 10 gallons each. You're also making it harder on yourself in a smaller tank by increasing risk of toxic water conditions. Think about the waste to water ratio.
I started off with a 10 for one but moved to a 20 long because the ten just seemed too crowded. I could see two in the 20 long, but I know I'd end up getting at least a 30 after a few weeks.
Depending on the space in your house, you could make a 40 breeder or a 55 long work beautifully. If you can look at used deals in local pet stores or on Craigslist, you can find awesome deals. We often have tank + stand for under $200 here, usually 55 gallons (it's a common size for fish).
Something I didn't fully appreciate for a while was how much easier it is for me AND the take inhabitant to have a low waste:water ratio. Smaller systems are more likely to spike toxins or other wise have problems. I thought "no problem, I'm up to the challenge" but I wish I had more room for a bigger guppy tank because the 10 gallon setup they're in is a royal pain in the butt.
Martin21114
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Thanks. I was planning on housing the juveniles individually until they are about 6" then I was going to house them in either a 40 gallon breeder or 55 gallon. IT sound slike either should work fine. Do you think the extra water volume in the 55 is worth the loss of floor space compared to the 40? Cost isn't an issue since I can get either tank and make a stand for under $100 (thank you petco tank sale!).
arenaboy007
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I guess I'll have to buy a bigger tank, my problem is the filter I just bought is designed
for 20g, which I just had less than a month. And I will have to buy a new one if I'm getting a 40g+ tank...
for 20g, which I just had less than a month. And I will have to buy a new one if I'm getting a 40g+ tank...
Chirple
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The floorspace in the 40 breeder and 55 are actually very close - the 55 is only SLIGHTLY smaller in that regard, but is pretty much just longer and a bit skinnier.
So it really depends on location, what you have room for, and what you want to do with aquascaping. You can increase usable room even more by having hides and plants that are good for walking on or climbing in. Mine has a rock cave and is as often on top of it as in it. They're pretty good swimmers, so you could do a bit in that regard - as well, if they need to go up for air, it can help to have little landing zones so they don't have to do a surface run all in one go (they do it just because - or if someone is feeling a little down in the gills before you catch on).
@arenaboy007, what kind of filter do you use ? I have sponge filters in my tanks and they're really cheap and work great ! If you do change to a bigger tank, run the older filter along with the old one for a couple weeks to get the new tank cycled quickly. If you do go that route, you could probably sell what filter you have now to recoup the cost a bit.
I've also heard of people running more than one filter full-time - but I have never done this, so I'm not sure how that would work best.
Or use the old filter to start a new tank. When I moved my axolotl to a bigger tank, guppies moved into her old one.
So it really depends on location, what you have room for, and what you want to do with aquascaping. You can increase usable room even more by having hides and plants that are good for walking on or climbing in. Mine has a rock cave and is as often on top of it as in it. They're pretty good swimmers, so you could do a bit in that regard - as well, if they need to go up for air, it can help to have little landing zones so they don't have to do a surface run all in one go (they do it just because - or if someone is feeling a little down in the gills before you catch on).
@arenaboy007, what kind of filter do you use ? I have sponge filters in my tanks and they're really cheap and work great ! If you do change to a bigger tank, run the older filter along with the old one for a couple weeks to get the new tank cycled quickly.
If you do go that route, you could probably sell what filter you have now to recoup the cost a bit.I've also heard of people running more than one filter full-time - but I have never done this, so I'm not sure how that would work best.
Or use the old filter to start a new tank. When I moved my axolotl to a bigger tank, guppies moved into her old one.
hacelepues
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Do a 40 breeder! Your lotls will love you for it. The bigger the footprint, the better, and they'll have more room to turn around. In most cases, you will never have an axie tank filled to it's full gallon capacity anyhow since their water doesn't need to be too deep.
I've also heard of people running more than one filter full-time - but I have never done this, so I'm not sure how that would work best.
There are actually some advantages. My planted tank has two filters (and a pump) because the plants dampen water movement so much. Obviously extra water movement isn't something you want for an axie tank. One big advantage is that you can clean the media from one filter at a time and reduce the risk of a mini-cycle. Also, I can run different media in them...pure filter floss in one, and foam/ceramic in the other.
Two underpowered filters, with just a little water movement at each side of the tank might work out fine for an axie.
There are actually some advantages. My planted tank has two filters (and a pump) because the plants dampen water movement so much. Obviously extra water movement isn't something you want for an axie tank. One big advantage is that you can clean the media from one filter at a time and reduce the risk of a mini-cycle. Also, I can run different media in them...pure filter floss in one, and foam/ceramic in the other.
Two underpowered filters, with just a little water movement at each side of the tank might work out fine for an axie.