I am not trying to cause an argument here but I notice a lot of American posts talking about grow outs....ie small tank to grown on a big species before upgrading to a bigger tank...is this just a cultural thing? In the UK we do not seem to follow the same concept.
I personally believe that a large species should start off in a tank for life or atleast as big as you can although I do plan an upgrade myself but this is due to underestimating the true final sizes of rays.
Does a smaller tank early in life stunt the fish to some degree?
I totally understand where the main tank contains fully grown specimens that would eat or hurt the younger fish but this is rarely a problem with Rays.
I often see posts about rays in the grow and have, in the past, thought that the poster was kidding themselves that they will get a larger tank and post this way to avoid flaming but experience shows that USA keepers often do upgrade later as many more use pre-formed ponds, I suspect this is due to the better climate which is easier to keep them warm, different attitudes to presentation / formality and the prevalence of basements and generally more space for cost of housing in certain areas.
The UK used to have a common basis of giving back large fish or selling them on, I think this is more frowned upon now and no longer supported by shops for obvious reasons.
I personally believe that a large species should start off in a tank for life or atleast as big as you can although I do plan an upgrade myself but this is due to underestimating the true final sizes of rays.
Does a smaller tank early in life stunt the fish to some degree?
I totally understand where the main tank contains fully grown specimens that would eat or hurt the younger fish but this is rarely a problem with Rays.
I often see posts about rays in the grow and have, in the past, thought that the poster was kidding themselves that they will get a larger tank and post this way to avoid flaming but experience shows that USA keepers often do upgrade later as many more use pre-formed ponds, I suspect this is due to the better climate which is easier to keep them warm, different attitudes to presentation / formality and the prevalence of basements and generally more space for cost of housing in certain areas.
The UK used to have a common basis of giving back large fish or selling them on, I think this is more frowned upon now and no longer supported by shops for obvious reasons.