Question: Tank/tub size requirements

[HannahMarie]

Hello fellow axie lovers,
I am working towards getting a hatchery set up and am wondering what size containers I will need for the babies. I am planning on keeping them separate after hatching to reduce the risk of injuries. I know many people keep them in Tupperware so I was wondering what size they need? If I have a bunch of 1 gallon tanks that are about 6" across. How long can they get in a jar that size before needing more. Is there a general rule like 2x their length? Or a size based on age? I was also thinking of getting some smaller 32oz jars for right after they hatch.
I'll take any and all advice on the subject!
Thanks!
Hannah

 

[bugdozer]

I can only speak from my own experience but I kept mine in a 19 litre tank up until a couple of months old, then split them into two 19 litre tanks. My idea was that with a large volume of water, it is much less likely to suffer ammonia/nitrite spikes compared to the tiny weeny containers that it seems to be common to keep baby axies in. I never had any water quality issues, but that's not to say they all survived as a result.

 

[HannahMarie]

How many did you keep in there? I have two 10 gallon (about 38L) two 20 gallon and soon to have two 40 gallon breeder tanks (shorter and wider)

 

[auntiejude]

I keep babies in small groups generally. I start them out in 1L containers in 10s for the first 3-4 weeks, then move them on to 5L containers until they get back legs. Then onto 60L tanks with filters in larger groups - half-full tanks to start, then gradually filling up as the axies grow.

I don't believe keeping them separate actually does any good in the long term. In the short term it does prevent injuries, but eventually you will have to put them together, and they are just as likely to injure each other then. They are less likely to injure each other if they are well fed, and given plenty of space.

 

[bugdozer]

How many did you keep in there? I have two 10 gallon (about 38L) two 20 gallon and soon to have two 40 gallon breeder tanks (shorter and wider)

I had about 60 to begin with, but I had some deaths of unknown cause. By the time I got to the point where they were growing front legs, I had about 40, and by the time they were growing back legs, about 30.