Belated reply back: it took until today for me to figure out how to do a search for my own posts.
You are correct, Bubbles. I'm not using the 55 gallon as a grow out tank - it's strictly for the breeders, of which there will be maybe three total. From everything I've read, while Redclaws can get huge, they typically max out at 8" in an aquarium. With enough hiding places they should be fine. If not, I'm honestly not too worried. I've started looking for a 90-120g~ tank that is affordable. With any luck I'll locate one before these little guys are large enough for it to be an issue (they're around 2-4" at the moment). Then the 55 will probably become a second starter tank (or another breeder/pretty tank) before everyone is moved into stock tanks and wading pools. For that matter, anything I'm raising will be giving birth in a secondary tank, if possible, to allow them to grow out without worrying about hungry adults.
Considering how mellow they are, I assumed they would be fine with BNs. If not I can part with them. I've already done and redone the space-math a dozen times to determine what I can safely fit in the tank without overcrowding.
I'll do what I can to get good pictures of them, though it may take me a little while. I built them caves that are up against the sides of the tank so they can stay hidden but I can still see them. It works great, but they are still partially in the dark and the pictures I've tried to take so far have not turned out all that well.
Plecoman, your babies look great. Your water sounds like ours - it's more like liquid rock that the fish magically swim through.
You are correct, Bubbles. I'm not using the 55 gallon as a grow out tank - it's strictly for the breeders, of which there will be maybe three total. From everything I've read, while Redclaws can get huge, they typically max out at 8" in an aquarium. With enough hiding places they should be fine. If not, I'm honestly not too worried. I've started looking for a 90-120g~ tank that is affordable. With any luck I'll locate one before these little guys are large enough for it to be an issue (they're around 2-4" at the moment). Then the 55 will probably become a second starter tank (or another breeder/pretty tank) before everyone is moved into stock tanks and wading pools. For that matter, anything I'm raising will be giving birth in a secondary tank, if possible, to allow them to grow out without worrying about hungry adults.
Considering how mellow they are, I assumed they would be fine with BNs. If not I can part with them. I've already done and redone the space-math a dozen times to determine what I can safely fit in the tank without overcrowding.
I'll do what I can to get good pictures of them, though it may take me a little while. I built them caves that are up against the sides of the tank so they can stay hidden but I can still see them. It works great, but they are still partially in the dark and the pictures I've tried to take so far have not turned out all that well.
Plecoman, your babies look great. Your water sounds like ours - it's more like liquid rock that the fish magically swim through.
