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I've seen rays in a couple of discus tank vids- what do they need, what concerns do they raise? More info, PLEASE!
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rays need large tanks with a good sized footprint (min 6x2ft). the smallest rays grow to 14" across but they are hard to care for. the easier to care for rays get significantly larger. all rays produce a large amount of waste another reason they require at least 180g and more like 250g. also never buy a teacup ray.
sent from my ti-85 during chemistry classLast edited by lipadj46; 01-26-2012, 06:22 AM.--Don-- -
Re: RAYS?!?!
why not the teacup ray? just curious.Comment
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Re: RAYS?!?!
Short version; they aren't THAT hard to keep. my observed input is that they will impact your bioload per 'ray as much as a complete Discus stocking of a given tank. I would suggest only adult Discus, as they will bump the fish out of the food pecking order..And foods are spendy; CBW's, nightcrawlers,etc...I've had Discus kill a 'ray, and vice versa...not the average person's 'community tank',,,GaryThe meek shall inherit the earth. The oceans are for the brave.Comment
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Re: RAYS?!?!
TNT777 keeps rays with discus her name is tara you should send her a PM.............Josie
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Re: RAYS?!?!
usually the teacup rays sold get huge and really should be in salt water, when kept in freshwater they produce huge amounts of ammonia to compensate.
I never said they were I said they need a large tank as they generally get 20" across and that the smallest species from the amazon (that could fit in a smaller tank) are the most difficult to keep--Don--Comment
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Re: RAYS?!?!
Cause most rays that are sold as teacups are just any caught baby ray that can/might quite large. lipadj46 I have never heard of them needing saltwater..not a true statement. If you are referring to the Florida stingray which is a smaller brackish water ray then yes but this ray is very recognizable in its diamond shape. The teacup ray is actually a store name for the reticulated ray which is a freshwater ray. And ime dont start with a retic LOL. They are hell to get eating and even when they do are picky eaters. Start with a hystrix. A smaller ray which the females max at about 12"-14" and the males a bit smaller. But even these rays still need a large tank as adults. And yes Gary is right about tankmates. A discus can kill a ray easy.Tara Bennett
Phone: 815-876-0516Comment
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yes i was talking about small florida rays specifically but ive seen any small ray sold as tea cup rays. the actual teacup rays the reticulated are pretty darn hard to keep and they still get 14" across which is still quite big for a bottom dweller
sent from my ti-85 during chemistry class--Don--Comment
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Re: RAYS?!?!
I wouldnt say retics are hard to keep other than their eating habits..they are easier to maintain than discus ime. If you can get one that is in good shape. And yes the females can max at 14" but most do not. I have a 2 yr old retic male that is only 8 1/2". Most rays are pretty slow growers...and take years to mature. And many more years to reach max growth. The easiest way to know its a retic is to look at the tail. Retics have longer tails than most rays except the whiptails. If you see a short tail dont buy it. But that being said my male has a short tail from a shipping injury. He had the tail when I got him but it was broke from shipping and fell off not long after. But I wouldnt recommend a retic for a starter ray. The hystrix is a much less picky eater and is hardy. But you do have to make sure you get a brazillian hystrix and not a ray from peru that looks like a hystrix. The brazillian hystrix maxs at 14" and the peru "fake hystrix" maxs at 38" I believe.Tara Bennett
Phone: 815-876-0516Comment
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yeah its the motoros in 75-125g tanks that make me scratch my head. they get hella big
sent from my ti-85 during chemistry class--Don--Comment
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Re: RAYS?!?!
Most rays will get big but like Tara said they will take years and years to reach those sizes. Most people buy 4"-6" rays and you can keep those in a 90 gallon tank for several years before moving them up. I kept both my hystix rays in a 92 gallon for 2 years before moving them to a 120. And in those two years they grew about 3"-4".My wife names my fish
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Re: RAYS?!?!
They just looked so cool, I HAD to ask. Then again, if they were easy to keep, everyone would, right?Comment
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Re: RAYS?!?!
I would love to get some rays but it was the tank size that holds me up on getting some. Biggest tank I have length wise is a 130 that measures 72" by 18" of which I understand is too small
Evelyn
Don't let the things you can't do stop you from doing the things you can!Comment
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