Ray's

[Frogs62]

Most of what I have read here about ray is that they get big and thus need a big tank. I have a few questions that I hope the experts here can answer:

1) Are they good Discus tankmates
2) Are they good cleaning up? In a big tank would they be better than a bunch of cory's(I would assume so)
3) Would you have Cory's in with rays
4) other than getting big... what are the down sides to having

[coralbandit]

My understanding of rays is they are not clean fish at all.
They need heavy maintenance like some of our other finned friends .
There are rays that stay 'small' but IMO that still requires a 2 foot wide tank to start ..
Their random activity and flighty swimming habbitts may bother discus >

[Shan_Evolved]

Real good question - I'd love the answers too! Following this thread. Also H-town represent! Hope the weather is nice there this Christmas

[Vinni Smith]

I have always loved rays. Especially the spotted ones.
I have cured my want for rays with Hillstream Loaches.
Not the same, but a good substitute.
Good algae eaters and get along with the discus like peas and carrots.
Don't believe those that say they don't take high temps.
Mine are thriving!

Vinni

[Iminit]

Vinnie I’ve read before in your threads about your hill stream loaches. So I’ve got to ask. What type are they? Can you put up some pics? How long have you had them? Everything I’ve read about them says cold highly oxygenated water. Years ago I had them (before the internet)and couldn’t figure out why they died. Recently reading they couldn’t handle higher temps kind of explained why they died. They definitely are interesting looking.

[LizStreithorst]

I read about them too. But there is no way I could keep fish that demanded such cold water. I agree, Tom. They look cool.

[Vinni Smith]

Vinnie I’ve read before in your threads about your hill stream loaches. So I’ve got to ask. What type are they? Can you put up some pics? How long have you had them? Everything I’ve read about them says cold highly oxygenated water. Years ago I had them (before the internet)and couldn’t figure out why they died. Recently reading they couldn’t handle higher temps kind of explained why they died. They definitely are interesting looking.

I have read all these things too about cold water only and lots of circulation.
Just not my experience.
Kept them for almost a year now.
Have not lost any and they are growing like crazy.
I hear they get up to 3" long. These are about 2 - 2 1/2" so far.
Not sure what strain they are. They come from Sun Pets in Florida and their supplier is from Vietnam.
I keep all my tanks 81-82 degrees. Unless their is a problem I have to deal with and then I raise the temp.
Have not touched the temp in months.
Hillstreams, neons and rummies all thriving.
Only time I lost any was when I used some API algae killer a while back for an algae bloom.
Killer is the right word. I lost about 35 dither fish.
I am not saying I am doing it right. Just logging my experience with them.

I have seen lots of videos with people that spawn and raise them in warm aquarium water with sponge filters.

I guess I am a rule breaker. Been that way all my life.

These are in my shop tank. 112 gal @ 82 deg. They are a lot bigger now.
HStLs.jpg

[Iminit]

Yep cool looking fish. Look like there right out of a horror flick.
Well I’m out I use the api co2 booster which is there algae killer daily in all my tanks. And I keep my tanks at 85.

[Vinni Smith]

Yep cool looking fish. Look like there right out of a horror flick.
Well I’m out I use the api co2 booster which is there algae killer daily in all my tanks. And I keep my tanks at 85.

I have used API products for years.
However, about 6 - 8 months ago I had a couple of tanks with a green water bloom.
Kept showing up every few weeks.
So, I bought their algae product and put it in a few tanks.
I did not overdose.
Within an hour I had dead fish and they kept dying till the next day.
Immediate 100% WCs, of course.
I contacted API and they said they will get back with me and HAPPY FISGH KEEPING.
Happy fish keeping???
Never heard from them again, even after some emails from me.
Got online and read reviews.
Dead fish reviews all over Amazon and every other platform.
Same story as mine.
I am DONE with API

[Willie]

Never EVER use algicides. I found 2 - 3 bottles of this stuff in swag bags a few years ago, back when you can attend fish shows in person. The ingredient statement shows that they used off-label agricultural herbicides. At least one was off label due to ground water contamination and toxicity to mammals.

Plus, different chemicals work on different algaes. Most blooms are caused by blue-green algae, which is actually a bacteria. Green algae is a plant and require different controls. Best thing to do is make a big water change and turn off the lights.

[Vinni Smith]

Never EVER use algicides. I found 2 - 3 bottles of this stuff in swag bags a few years ago, back when you can attend fish shows in person. The ingredient statement shows that they used off-label agricultural herbicides. At least one was off label due to ground water contamination and toxicity to mammals.

Plus, different chemicals work on different algaes. Most blooms are caused by blue-green algae, which is actually a bacteria. Green algae is a plant and require different controls. Best thing to do is make a big water change and turn off the lights.

Yep. I learned all the above, for sure!

May I also ad a UV light works wonders if you like the lights on a lot.

V

[Vinni Smith]

Here is a better pic of one of my Hillstream Loaches.
Hillstream.jpg

[LizStreithorst]

They are very pretty. I'll ask my LPS if they can get them. I'll put them in my Rainbow fish tank in the office. It's a 125. Do you think that 5 would be too many for that tank? It's planted with a gravel substrate but I don't think it's overstocked. I only do WC on that tank once a week.

[Vinni Smith]

They are very pretty. I'll ask my LPS if they can get them. I'll put them in my Rainbow fish tank in the office. It's a 125. Do you think that 5 would be too many for that tank? It's planted with a gravel substrate but I don't think it's overstocked. I only do WC on that tank once a week.

6 in each big tank is what I do.
I think they like to be in #s
They do hang out a lot together.
I do WC in the shop about once per week.

They are fun fish to have.
Everyone comments on them.

[Vinni Smith]

One place species that does not do well with the temps and/or the discus are ottos.