Appropriate Size For A Nursery Tank

[carmstrong]

Good Afternoon Fish Keepers, 
 
I have a bunch of freshly born Fry from a Red Wag Platy yesterday and my friends are all in awe.. 
 
They want some and so I now need to get a nursery tank for my new little ones to grow. 
 
What size would you suggest?
 
Can I get away with a 5gal tank for transition purposes only or do I need to go with a 10gal?
 
I have an established 15gal already so cycling and filter media and water transfering wont be an issue since the fry are already in the larger tank in a guppy breeder. *Going to test the water and do the fishless cycle before placing the new fry in*
 
Let me know your thoughts 
 
Thanks in advance. 
 

 

[attibones]

Well, I would not move them to a nursery at all. You'll be quickly over run with fry if you save all of them. I tend to just let mine hang out in the tank and fend for themselves. In a fifteen gallon, you're already pushing the absolute minimum tank requirements, so having a mixed group of platies really is a recipe for disaster. However, if you really want to raise some, the ten gallon is the better size. They will need a cycled filter because you will need to do several small meals throughout the day. You'll also need to make sure that the filter can't suck up any of the babies, so covering the intake with some panty hose or a fine sponge will be necessary. If you could do a larger tank than ten gallons, that would be even better because you're going to have dozens of babies every month and they will all need space to grow. You'll also need to make sure you have a plan for the ones your friends won't take. Check your LFS to see what their policy is and then check around at other shops. You'll likely not get much money, if any, for them, but you will not have space for more than four platies, I think.

 

[carmstrong]

Thanks Atti, 
 
Yes my friend wants to take 2 platies and my sister is looking at 3. 
 
I was planning to only save around 10 of them in the small tank and giveaway the remainder. 
 
I will pick up a 10gal and use that for a nursery tank for this run and then change it where there are no longer live bearers inside. 
 
Thanks!