Scavengers/clean up crew

[Stanzzzz7]

Severum, festivum and chocolates for SA cichlids. I had a Geo Tapajos that ended up chow when I was gone for a few days, constantly being right on the sandbed made him a prime target. A larger specimens would have worked better/longer. My cichlids eat a lot of food before it gets to the rays, something to consider when you want to get the ray on other food.

Chocolates are another species I had considered.
My ray is eating prawns, bloodworms and earthworms. She is 3 years old and the previous keeper said she is very laid back and has not eaten fish as small as a zebra danio.
Having said that, I don't want to take any chances. I would love a shoal of silver dollars but also a cichlid or catfish that would eat any bits left between rocks or branches.

 

[Woefulrelic]

Chocolates are another species I had considered.
My ray is eating prawns, bloodworms and earthworms. She is 3 years old and the previous keeper said she is very laid back and has not eaten fish as small as a zebra danio.
Having said that, I don't want to take any chances. I would love a shoal of silver dollars but also a cichlid or catfish that would eat any bits left between rocks or branches.

I think retics have smaller mouths and/or they just have smaller body size than other rays so I wouldn't be surprised to hear that it worked for a long time. I look at all of my ray tankmates as potential meals, I think your female will keep growing too. Is she in your hands? I wouldn't mind a pic to confirm health and stuff.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Best pics I can get at the moment with all the reflections.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

I think retics have smaller mouths and/or they just have smaller body size than other rays so I wouldn't be surprised to hear that it worked for a long time. I look at all of my ray tankmates as potential meals, I think your female will keep growing too. Is she in your hands? I wouldn't mind a pic to confirm health and stuff.

Does she look OK to you?
She seems healthy enough to me.She wouldn't eat for the first 2 days but she is eating ok now and she seems to swim confidently around the tank.

 

[Woefulrelic]

Looks fat and healthy to me. Really nice ray.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Looks fat and healthy to me. Really nice ray.

Great.thank you.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

I've decided to stick without a shoal of silver dollars for the moment. They seem to most likely candidates to work without any issues.

 

[mrrobxc]

Severum, festivum and chocolates for SA cichlids. I had a Geo Tapajos that ended up chow when I was gone for a few days, constantly being right on the sandbed made him a prime target. A larger specimens would have worked better/longer. My cichlids eat a lot of food before it gets to the rays, something to consider when you want to get the ray on other food.

I agree with Dick. I've had the same issue with red head Geophagus getting taken down. Something larger would be ideal. I don't keep anything to clean up other than a vampire pleco.

 

[Woefulrelic]

I agree with Dick. I've had the same issue with red head Geophagus getting taken down. Something larger would be ideal. I don't keep anything to clean up other than a vampire pleco.

I keep my tanks more heavily ray infested than you, but have noticed anything small on the bottom feeder side gets beat up. I'd imagine the oxy nigers and pter gran get by on being big with other ray keepers.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Thanks for the replys all.
I added a group of metynnis lippincotianus. So far it's working well enough.
They seem to ignore each other for the most part.
I think I am going to break a 30 year habit and not add any cichlids to this tank.
The ray came with a hujeta gar



He is really chilled out and never bothers anything.i think I will just stay with him and the spotted dollars for now.
It's nice to have a peaceful tank for a change,without territorial cichlids.

I think I have found a new passion now.