Lets hear some feelings on banning the importation of wild caught freshwater stingrays. Through discussion with some active industry oldies this weekend, it came up. The ban would be based on the high mortality of these guys. For example, they often don't live so we probably should not be importing them. This is not a normal reason for the USFW to step in, but as responsible ray keepers, shouldn't we be considering this? "Teacups" have what, like a 5% chance of living more than 6 months in captivity? Weather this is fault of collector, holder, shipper, wholesaler, retailer, or keeper... the mortality rate is high for all rays.
A ban on all rays, would anyone support it?
- Thread starter tank125
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I can def see some plus sides to it but at the same time it i see the negitives of this hobby never really growing
as a breeder, i feel like this would be amazing cuz it would drive up prices on all rays, but here is one for you.... How expensive would flower rays be 
there has only been a few places to breed them in captivity
there has only been a few places to breed them in captivityI'd be against it as it would forever put them out of my reach, though I would be quite capable of taking care of them if I had the proper footprint aquarium/indoor pond.
I could see quotas and bans on some species, but where there are others that are killed because they are a nusiance why not have them die in our aquarium than on a riverbank somewhere. At least it would provide some income for the locals, airlines, distributers, ect..
Ullopincrate;2948811; said:
I agree, this would cause an increase in demand and prices would sky rocket, putting them out of reach for the general population.
snake_charmer;2948896; said:
we can live out them. I guess I just have to consider it myself when thinking about what the "cost" was for the rays that I have. Import 8 flowers ---> 2 live... careless packing methods by shipper.
Well hopefully we are learning from these deaths and will soon not lose any on our end and the shipping end. The more the hobby is explored I think the better our chances for more captive breeding and less importing
turkeyboy85;2948809; said:as a breeder, i feel like this would be amazing cuz it would drive up prices on all rays, but here is one for you.... How expensive would flower rays be
and who has actually bred flower rays? you mean tiger rays?
I think you need to look bigger picture here. If the reason for a 'ban' is higher mortalities why stingrays and not other fish? How about many herps? animals used for food? where do you draw the line?