Broodstock should be stocked into holding tanks at 1 to 3 animals per square foot of bottom area. Males should be of similar size (within an ounce of each other in weight), or spawning can be suppressed by nearly 50 percent. The ratio of females to males in each tank should be between 1 to 3 females for each male. Good spawning success has occurred using tanks with water depths of 1 to 3 feet. Small rectangular tanks of 15 to 20 square feet, as well as large circular tanks of 15 feet in diameter have been used successfully. Shallow rectangular tanks (8 to 10 feet long by 2 to 3 feet wide) with water 12 to 18 inches deep are commonly used. Red claw are excellent climbers and escape from tanks if the water level is near the tank top or if equipment such as air line tubing or heater cords extends over the sides of the tank. To reduce escapes, equipment should be suspended from overhead so that it does not touch the sides of the tank.