Question: Tank size? To upgrade or not to upgrade!

[Fogwatch]

Alright, so I know there are many many threads about prospective tank size.
I've heard a general rule is add up the lengths of all axies in the tank and double it for the length of the tank itself and you should have plenty of space for them. Is that a good guideline or totally bogus?

My main question today is about housing juveniles. I want to get younger axis so that I can watch them grow! However, the tank that I have in mind is 1' wide and 3' long. I've read in some other threads this is a decent size for two adults unless my adults are ridiculously massive for some reason. Now I know that some creatures will get used to the amount of space you give them so you can't simply put them in their adult size tanks right away..

FOR EXAMPLE: I bought a juvenile water dragon and set her up in a sizable tank. The tank was specifically purchased to be big enough for her when she was fully grown, however as she grew she started to get stressed and constantly jumped at the glass until she damaged her nose and we had to take her to the vet. The vet and my pet store provider told me that the reason she was so stressed out was because she was used to having more space and needed a bigger tank. She should have been kept in a smaller, more size appropriate, tank when she was a juvenile.

So my question to you is this: Will I freak out my new axis if I put them in a large tank right away, or should I put them in something smaller and upgrade as they grow?

 

[Boomsloth]

Alright, so I know there are many many threads about prospective tank size.
I've heard a general rule is add up the lengths of all axies in the tank and double it for the length of the tank itself and you should have plenty of space for them. Is that a good guideline or totally bogus?

My main question today is about housing juveniles. I want to get younger axis so that I can watch them grow! However, the tank that I have in mind is 1' wide and 3' long. I've read in some other threads this is a decent size for two adults unless my adults are ridiculously massive for some reason. Now I know that some creatures will get used to the amount of space you give them so you can't simply put them in their adult size tanks right away..

FOR EXAMPLE: I bought a juvenile water dragon and set her up in a sizable tank. The tank was specifically purchased to be big enough for her when she was fully grown, however as she grew she started to get stressed and constantly jumped at the glass until she damaged her nose and we had to take her to the vet. The vet and my pet store provider told me that the reason she was so stressed out was because she was used to having more space and needed a bigger tank. She should have been kept in a smaller, more size appropriate, tank when she was a juvenile.

So my question to you is this: Will I freak out my new axis if I put them in a large tank right away, or should I put them in something smaller and upgrade as they grow?

I don't think you would have an issue with housing them in a larger tank. As juveniles its often better for them to be able to each have their own space. A larger aquarium also provides more water volume which helps dilute ammonia/nitrite/nitrate which could stress out your axolotls. Axolotls are generally kept in at least 10 gallons for each axolotl but this is just a guideline. For axolotls its not so much about the size of the tank but the water quality they are in. If you do decide to go with a bigger tank make sure you have enough filtration to handle them or you'll be doing large water changes frequently. Axolotls all have different personalities, but generally as they reach adulthood they all pretty much slow down. You can spend all day watching one stay in the exact same spot without moving. You should not have a problem with a larger tank as long as you provide hiding spots for each axolotl.

 

[auntiejude]

Where are you getting this information from? Most of it is a load of rubbish.

First of all, a water dog is a juvenile salamander and it was probably trying to get out of the water amd find land. The pet store just wanted to sell you a bigger tank. I have never heard of a salamander or axie getting claustrophobic.

Axies need 10gal of space each, preferably with more floor space than height. You need a foot of floor length per axie if you want to measure it that way. 3x1 is a little narrow, I would go for 3x1.5 or 3x2 if you can (1.5 feet deep), and thats plenty big enough for 2 axies.

There is no reason to keep axies in a smaller tank, you can put juvies in a big tank as long as they are big enough to cope with any flow from a filter. I had my adults from 5" juvies in their big tank. They are still there, absolutely fine.

Why waste money on different size tanks?

 

[Boomsloth]

Where are you getting this information from? Most of it is a load of rubbish.

First of all, a water dog is a juvenile salamander and it was probably trying to get out of the water amd find land. The pet store just wanted to sell you a bigger tank. I have never heard of a salamander or axie getting claustrophobic.

Axies need 10gal of space each, preferably with more floor space than height. You need a foot of floor length per axie if you want to measure it that way. 3x1 is a little narrow, I would go for 3x1.5 or 3x2 if you can (1.5 feet deep), and thats plenty big enough for 2 axies.

There is no reason to keep axies in a smaller tank, you can put juvies in a big tank as long as they are big enough to cope with any flow from a filter. I had my adults from 5" juvies in their big tank. They are still there, absolutely fine.

Why waste money on different size tanks?

I think he was referring to the lizard "water dragon" Many reptiles, especially lizards like beardies get anxiety if placed in a large habitat when they are really young. But its more of the lack of hides that freaks them out. I definitely agree on the tanks though. No need to keep buying new tanks and deal with the headache of that if they are perfectly happy in a large one. Pet stores will say a lot of stuff just to make a sale.

 

[Fogwatch]

Where are you getting this information from? Most of it is a load of rubbish.

First of all, a water dog is a juvenile salamander and it was probably trying to get out of the water amd find land. The pet store just wanted to sell you a bigger tank. I have never heard of a salamander or axie getting claustrophobic.

Axies need 10gal of space each, preferably with more floor space than height. You need a foot of floor length per axie if you want to measure it that way. 3x1 is a little narrow, I would go for 3x1.5 or 3x2 if you can (1.5 feet deep), and thats plenty big enough for 2 axies.

There is no reason to keep axies in a smaller tank, you can put juvies in a big tank as long as they are big enough to cope with any flow from a filter. I had my adults from 5" juvies in their big tank. They are still there, absolutely fine.

Why waste money on different size tanks?

I thank you for the information on the depth of the tank. That doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere else.
However I would like to point out that you seem to have misread my example...I was talking about my pet water DRAGON. Not water dog. A water dragon needs a lot of water to be happy but they are terrestrial creatures. The tank I mentioned was actually a terrarium not an aquarium. They are reptiles and very similar in appearance to basilisks. (For the record we just switched her into a slightly shallower tank with more floor space and moved the cichlids that used to be in there to two other tanks, all are very happy and comfortable now)

[EDIT] Sorry auntiejude I didn't mean to harp or anything I started typing up my response before Boomsloth replied.

Thanks all for the great feedback! Its good to know that I won't have to go through the hassle of cycling multiple tanks for them. I just want to make absolutely sure I've got a good environment for them before they come home.

 

[auntiejude]

.I was talking about my pet water DRAGON. Not water dog.

Apologies, my mistake.