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View Full Version : Sting Rays? Yes, No, Maybe So??



Kindredspirit
01-20-2006, 09:02 PM
Okay Guys~


I think I read about this somewhere and I looked around here to see if there had been a previous Thread and I could not find one! I am sure someone will point that out, however~


Sooooooooo whatcha think? I have always wanted a Sting Ray.... and Chris is getting one now!! I am jealous!


Lets have it lol!~http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_9_8.gif


Marie~

JMArtist
01-20-2006, 09:25 PM
Marie,
Stick with Discus for now. You have a lot of babies to take care of and there is still much you need to learn before taking on another type of fish.
I'm not being mean, just want you to not go crazy just yet...unless you are already crazy...Course I have spoken with you...you are crazy....LOL

So when is the new tank coming for the sting ray?

sidra
01-20-2006, 09:34 PM
Marie,

I fell in love with a Motoro Ray at the lfs and was gonna bring him home but found out they get a good 18 inches in diameter. They really need a BIG tank. Full grown my 75 gallon would be too small.

I believe it was Roclement (sorry, I can't remember your first name at the moment Roclement) who said there is a ray called a hystrix or histryx that doesn't get very big.

Rays do ok with discus because they won't bother the discus and discus won't bother them.

Rays also need a tank without much stuff in it because they will dig up your plants etc. And they need a fine substrate, preferably sand.

I just went through this a couple weeks ago and decided not to get one. At least not until I have a house and have a 200 gallon tank I could have a couple rays in.

Kristen

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_39.gif Look Marie! I remembered how to do it even two days later! LOL

Kindredspirit
01-20-2006, 09:47 PM
Thank you Kristen! Soooooooo you wanted one too?

Well, here is what I know... or have learned... Chris found some Tea Cup Rays, that do not get really big....and they do need sand, which I was wanting as well....

This would be for the 55gal tank with the 9month old discus....I do not have any plants soooooo.....but I do want white sand!


Thatz all I know....lol!! Johnnnnnnnnn, I am NOT crazy!! lol...no, all joking aside, I do appreciate your concern...and it will prolly never happen anyways... I was just excited when Chris ( Cobolt) said he was getting some.....cuz I have always wanted one.....and I always get what I want...itz wanting it after I get it, my mom use to say was my problem.....can you believe that?? lol!!


thatz all. just one. can i juss have one? a little one?http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_31_7.gif



Marie~


ps.. i see that, woman!!! I spoke with this gentleman from New Jersey today, that had to have our smileys! He shall be posting as well I am sure!!

sidra
01-20-2006, 09:54 PM
Oh yeah, I forgot about the teacups! The white sand would be great for a ray. The one I wanted was the deep brown motoro and he had so many of those golden spots and they were evenly spotted all over him. He was georgous. Even the guy in the lfs said he was one of the nicest ones he's had. They have a salt water one thats blue and yellow.

So now in addition to more discus tanks, I want a cichlid tank, a piranah (sp?) tank, a tank for rays and a salt water tank with sea horses and another with salt water rays and other cool stuff.

OK, so maybe what I really want is an aquarium. LOL

oodi
01-20-2006, 10:02 PM
Forget about it... rays are illegal in California.

Judi
:)

Condor
01-20-2006, 10:21 PM
I have heard that the most efficient way to keep rays is in a small shallow pond, like maybe a large kiddie pool. This is because they do not need the vertical space so much as they need the horizontal space. (kind of the opposite of discus). So Marie, I guess you could move to Arizona and get yourself a pool :)

Adrian

tpl*co
01-20-2006, 10:23 PM
Why are they illegal in California? (that would explain why I've never seen them in the stores :(). I like the looks of them too.

Tina

Kindredspirit
01-20-2006, 10:43 PM
I have seen them in lfs all the time in Sacramento, and San Francisco!! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_19_2.gif




Sooooooooooooooooo???? Capitol Aquarium has had them before, Tina!


Marie~

candyl70
01-20-2006, 10:45 PM
I have too Marie... all over in S.F.

Why would they be illegal?? Did something bad happen?

Kindredspirit
01-20-2006, 10:49 PM
They may be but nonetheless, they still stock them~


I see them all the time up here~ Tiny ones too!!

Marie~
:angel:

Doug A
01-20-2006, 10:52 PM
Hey! You talkin bout' mehttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_39.gif

Rays are pretty cool. Maybe one day if I have a really big tank I'll get one.

Doughttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_13_7.gif

candyl70
01-20-2006, 11:01 PM
Hmmmm.... another Simply smiler huh? http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_5_1.gif

Kindredspirit
01-20-2006, 11:01 PM
aww... Doug!!!



Well now, Sir.. what fine person gave you such great smileys???

Good Job!! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_2_48.gif You got it so quick! We can all own smileys and Rays!!


Candy?? where are Ya??? Barb??? Tina??

Marie~

candyl70
01-20-2006, 11:03 PM
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_11_6.gif

LOL.. beat ya to it M!!

Kindredspirit
01-20-2006, 11:23 PM
Okay... update update!!!http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_2_83.gif

Tina... I just called "O" Street Aquarium and they have some right now @ $79.99! wow!! But....they are the big ones....and I asked if they were illegal and he said that only the Freshwater Rays are illegal... not the Salt Water....

And then, of course, he went on to say that he does get the Freshwater in as well!


Go figure~


I know that I have seen tiny ones at Capital Aquarium too, woman! Small ones....and the sign said "minature", but I didnt trip on that til Chris mentioned the Tea Cup....and Tea Cup only come in Fresh Water I think he said~


umm........ I see Sting Rays in our future, Tina???? Distant as that may be, ya think?? Hell, we can not even find Cardinals!



Hey Adrian~ Arizona?? Oh.. Hell No!


Kristen~ You are a trip, woman!! Yeppers, we all need something, ya think??




Marie~

Kindredspirit
01-20-2006, 11:34 PM
hmm..... should I have not mentioned the names of those lfs??http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_202v.gif





I am sure someone will let me know~

traco
01-20-2006, 11:51 PM
Ha, I found cardinals!! But want to get a school of them for a 90 gallon. 20 of them? But at $4.00 per fish = $80.00! Don't know how I'm going to sweet talk my way for that? But it's better to get them all at once for QT purposes. Sigh ...........

Kindredspirit
01-21-2006, 12:04 AM
Barb?? $4- a fish?? Thats crazy! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_36.gif Or no?? I have no idea what one cost...are they not little things? Like Lemon Tetras?


I think 20 is good...but what do I know?? Aww..man, I want some!! I guess Tina found us some but they had Ich...sp..lol!


Marie~

Condor
01-21-2006, 12:19 AM
lol...well maybe you'll settle for a swimming pool then. :)

traco
01-21-2006, 12:37 AM
Well, blue rams here at the LFS are $11 to $16. If you buy just a couple of cardinals, $6.00 but bulk buying the $4.00. I'm going to phone around tomorrow and see what other stores are, but this LFS has good stock and clean tanks.

I did see some small rays at my store here but didn't see what kind they were. I think they were $150.00.

cobaltblue
01-21-2006, 03:29 AM
Ha, I found cardinals!! But want to get a school of them for a 90 gallon. 20 of them? But at $4.00 per fish = $80.00! Don't know how I'm going to sweet talk my way for that? But it's better to get them all at once for QT purposes. Sigh ...........


Barb, there is a store in Burnaby (Rainforest Pets) that sells nice cardinals for 1.20 each when you buy 15 or more...and they are really nice. I bought 30 for my 90g tank, and i still have all 30. ( 3 months later). 4 bucks is way overpriced.

Marie, 55g may be too small even for tea cup stingrays. I still need to do more research. I am still concerned my 125 may be too small. Maybe there is someone here who can answer that one. Stingrays like the same water conditions as discus, so if you keep to your discus wc regiment, you will be fine with them.

Kindredspirit
01-21-2006, 11:20 AM
Hey Chris!


Well, all this is pretty much food for thought, ya know? I would only one want anyways.....


I know what you are thinking, Canada.....and no no no, I am not getting anymore tanks!


I mean it. http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_2_75.gif


Marie~

Dave C
01-21-2006, 12:21 PM
The LFS I do most of my shopping from stopped carrying the tiny so-called t-cup rays. First of all they were dying in large %'s in the store vs. larger rays. And second, most t-cup rays are just baby motoros and will eventually exceed 12" in diameter. I found that keeping rays was no more difficult then Discus and so long as the Discus won't fit in the ray's mouth you should be ok. Rays and health is a bit of a black box though... they usually die from the "death curl" and when the edges of their disk curl up you can pretty much kiss them goodbye. So they are easy to care for... unless they die and then you have no real idea why they died. They also don't do too well with anything in the tank as far as decorations go. They like sand but will push it all to one side of the tank, leaving the rest bare... not too pretty to look at. Plants get destroyed as they turn up the sand and it covers the plants in time. My rays were able to harrass & kill some plecos that were huge, even though they couldn't eat them. Rays are predatory fish and spend the bulk of their time trying to eat their tank inhabitants.

btw, a 55g tank wouldn't be suitable for any ray for very long IMO.

candyl70
01-21-2006, 05:35 PM
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_5_137.gif

Dave C
01-21-2006, 06:34 PM
Keep at it, practice makes perfect.

II j L c II
01-28-2006, 02:02 PM
Hey guys! I'm a beginner discus collector but I do know and have owned rays before. Rays are illegal because they pose a threat to your life! They all maintain stingers that could severly cause you some pain if you got stabbed. As far as tea cup rays go, I believe that is just the size of any ray, as no ray stays small. Hystrix are the smallest and reach a max size I believe of 12'' in diameter. Don't let the LFS fool you into believing they will stay like that as that's not true. Rays and discus may and may not work. There was this famous Ray breeder in Australia I think who put 16 Wild Discus in his 400g tank with his 2 big Leopoldi pair and an Asian Red Tail Golden Arowana. Many discus we're eaten and killed by the ray because it dragged them to the floor. It is a chance you must take if you want to own a ray. Rays also are very active and may stress discus and they require lots of shrimp to keep them full (very expensive). Nonetheless, a ray discus tank is a beautiful one.

Jon

Bainbridge Mike
02-14-2006, 02:20 PM
I would contact the California department of fish and game to get the straight scoop on which Rays can be imported into CA.

Mike

Kindredspirit
02-14-2006, 02:32 PM
What an excellent idea, Mr. Future Member Spotlighter!!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_2_80.gif



Marie~



( how are ya, Mike?)

billeagan
02-14-2006, 02:43 PM
Hey guys, Rays are illegal in CA. Teacups are just a description of a small ray.

Generally, what the LFS call teacups are the common rays out of peru and columbia. Generally, a white/grey back ground with a very cool design. Teacups are the cheapest you will find, but also the hardest to keep.

Motoro's tend to be the heartiest of rays but do get large. If the disc gets to be 18 inches you will definitely need a larger tank. Its the width that matters with these guys.

Rays will dig up your plants. Put plants in the back corners surronded by drift wood and the rays will have a harder time digging them up.

Finally, keep in mind that rays are predators and you can keep them with discus, I do. But, keep in mind the size. I found a gorgeous cobalt in my last shipment and put it in my show tank at 2.5 inches. I got up the next morning and found that its face and half of its body had been eaten. 2.5inch discus with a 11 inch stingray didn't work out =( If you have a large ray you should be buying larger discus that are quicker and larger than the rays mouth. Typically, a ray won't go after something if it knows that it can't fit in its mouth.

billeagan
02-14-2006, 03:01 PM
I almost forgot... If you have a ray/planning on getting a ray please make sure you have a heater guard.

You can buy heaters with a guard made for it, Sera and Tronic, or use curlers or something to cover it.

Rays will burn themselves on heaters - I learned the hard way.

Kindredspirit
02-14-2006, 05:40 PM
Typically, a ray won't go after something if it knows that it can't fit in its mouth.



Thanks, Bill! I had heard this as well~ You have a Ray then? Could you post a picture? I so want one....


Marie~http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_4_10.gif

KIWI13
02-15-2006, 03:59 AM
I have read this thread from the start and I must admit, DaveC has given you some very sound advice. I think his post was the most fitting here cause he is right about the rays... So is Bill.. The two of them have brought up alot of valid points...

Sure rays look cute and everybody wants em but the reality is we do not have the space to provide them with.

Marie, I know your all excited by the rays, I know you want one but I would SERIOUSLY re-consider this option....

This could end up being an expensive mistake... I would personally invest that money into gettin some wilds.... Plus why on earth do you have one 9 month discus in a 55 gallon ??? he must be petrified the poor bugger... Get him some friends....

Jas

Kindredspirit
02-15-2006, 07:05 AM
Jas~


O.k.a.y....one nine month old in a 55gal? What are you smokin, Brat??http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_4_115.gif And where on earth did you get that tid bit? I have 6 in each 55 gal babe, and 5 in the 30gal...and 2 in my hospital tank......


I really want a Ray....but I have given up on the idea....:( ....but I do want some blue rams! If I ever get my two discus well again~http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_28_101.gif

Marie~

KIWI13
02-15-2006, 07:10 AM
This would be for the 55gal tank with the 9month old discus....I do not have any plants soooooo.....but I do want white sand!

!

That for me read as 1 nine month old discus.. I was reading rather fast..Normally you would hope for precision but NO , Marie wants to trick me by leaving out HOW MANY FISH fall into this 55.. LMAO

Kindredspirit
02-15-2006, 07:27 AM
LMAO!!! I am sorry babe....it DOES say that tho, doesnt it?? However............obviously ya don't even know me really......*******, I am crushed~ Have you taught me nothing??? lol!


Well, I am glad that no one else thought that.....or did they? Goes to show ya, we all insert what we think is there... ....it really doesnt say ONE DISCUS... come on now handsome, work with me here...im thinking.....no it does not...however, unless you actually 'speak Marie'....well, in your defense , I can possibly see where you concluded what you did~

....i think...http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_29_103.gif

Marie~

candyl70
02-15-2006, 04:25 PM
LOL.... I am petrified now!!!! Speaking Marie??? EEEEKKKKKKk I think I do!!! How scary is that I ask ya??? http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_11_1.gif

LMAO Jas!!! You are too cute for words!!!