4.5 weeks....

[snake_charmer]

and she STILL has not ate a thing! All of her bones are showing on top, seriously = Right now I feel very angry, frustrated, confused, and most of all exhausted. I cannot begin to tell you how time consuming it is to do daily water changes for this long (while tending to four other tanks), trying 6 different types of foods, adding new salt with each additional water change, taking substrate out, medicating, covering the tank to try and reduce stress, etc. I'm sorry but F*$K, S*%T, ***, B*%#H! To be honest with you, I am completely suprised that she is still alive after so long.

 

[DB junkie]

You gotta lighten up man. There's only so much you can do. It sucks the way they're caught but it's better to loose some then never get to enjoy them at all. As a raykeeper you should know that you WILL losse some along the way. I used to beat myself up too but it's just not worth it. Loosing sleep, stress, it all adds up and if not dealt with properly it can be detrimental to your hobby. IF you take it too harsh and you don't allready have some it can be very easy to give up, which is IMO a mistake, as they are such majestic creatures most of the time.

If you are doing the best you can then acknowledge that and give yourself credit. You DID make it this far. And so did the ray...........

You win some, and you loose some. This is always a gamble with WC rays. IF you are doing your part then you can't do anything more than let nature run it's course.

This is part of the reason why captive breds are such a better bet... Takes most of the "gambling" out of it.

Keep your head up...... Don't let that flapjack getcha down! I think these creatures can sense negative energy. Gots to stay positive!!!!!!

 

[snake_charmer]

Yea, you're probably right. It just sucks doing everything in your power and to still lose the battle. I went through a lot to obtain this ray (5 hour round trip) and that makes it even harder.

 

[jwong1024]

Sorry to hear that, I have been in that situation before. Thats why I almost cried when I had seen my rays eat for the first time. Hang in there and hope for the best.

BTW what kind of ray is it and what have you tired to feed it?

 

[tank125]

What medication are you using?

Have you used Metrodonazole yet?

 

[snake_charmer]

It's a female motoro. I've tried smelt, market shrimp, ghost shrimp, earthworms, and black worms. I treated it with a light dosage of triple sulfa.

 

[M|L]

sometimes, the more you do, the worst it gets.

not only doesn't it help your fish, you're stressing yourself out.

calm down and stop mess with your tank.

crank up the temperature to 86 degrees F and keep trying to feed live black worms.

 

[skynoch]

Are you keeping the tank covered? Try doing water changes every second day. Only try feeding blackworms or leave one nightcrawler in and see if it eats. If not take out after a day and put a new one in. You may actually be doing to much and stressing the ray. Why are you medicating? And for how long now? How much salt are you adding? Is there any symptoms beside not eating that are apperant? What temp are you at? What water conditioner are you using to treat your water?

 

[lincolngoh]

I do not think salt is your friend. Rays are abosolutely fine withut salt.

 

[DB junkie]

Yea, you're probably right. It just sucks doing everything in your power and to still lose the battle. I went through a lot to obtain this ray (5 hour round trip) and that makes it even harder.

5 hours is a lot? That's how far my nearest airport is. I consider that a short trip, or at least the shortest drive I get to make to obtain fish. 15 sucks....LOL

Seriously though, IF you didn't start with Blackworms I would definetly try some ASAP.

A safe bet with new rays refusing food is always fresh live Blackworms and live Ghost Shrimp.

I'm assuming it's isolated from any other fish?