Well, that's how the monster fish hobby starts. How many people on this board began their hobby with oscars in a 30g? You will learn as you go, and will eventually become a competent monster fish keeper.
A little terrified new ray owner
- Thread starter ARasberry
- Start date
I fed him today and he ate right away. I bought some frozen uncooked prawn shrimp and cut it up for him. He didn't hesitate so I think he is a healthy little guy.
With all of the information provided I am a bit torn, part of me wants to keep him as long as I can and then find him a good home once I am unable to provide for him, but I think it would be prudent to find him a better place now. I have called some of the pet stores around my area (Portland, Oregon) and I think one may want him they said I would need to call back tomorrow. I don't really want to take him back to the store I got him from just because I fear that he may once again be sold to someone unable to care for him and die.
If anyone knows someone looking for a nice little motoro in my area feel free to have them contact me, or post here.
With all of the information provided I am a bit torn, part of me wants to keep him as long as I can and then find him a good home once I am unable to provide for him, but I think it would be prudent to find him a better place now. I have called some of the pet stores around my area (Portland, Oregon) and I think one may want him they said I would need to call back tomorrow. I don't really want to take him back to the store I got him from just because I fear that he may once again be sold to someone unable to care for him and die.
If anyone knows someone looking for a nice little motoro in my area feel free to have them contact me, or post here.
Post a thread in the buy&sell here on this site. If you can find a buyer you will most likely get more $$ than you would from an LFS, and you know your ray will be going to a good home.
well said.....water_baby83 said:I agree with everyones concerns, and that you may have possibly jumped the gun...BUT, do not get discouraged ok, it's not a lost cause! Sure you jumped into deeper waters than you may have been ready for, but hey, you're here now, so it's time to cowboy up, and take on the challenge. And sometimes, we learn best when we are forced to! About the LFS (local fish store) Employee, I am sure I speak for all my buddies here when I say 99% of the time - take anything they tell you with a grain of salt!!! You should never rely on an employee to fill you in on a species - you should actually know enough about them PRIOR to your purchase, that you would be able to spot immediatly if an employee gave false or inconsistant info. As far as some basic info. goes, there is a plethera of information available, as well as all of us here who have kept these rays, and speek from experience. I could go on and on (Like I am known to do, LOL), but here is just some basic outline of starter info to get you on the right track, and others can fill in the gaps as we go ok.
Scientific name: Potamotrygon motoro
Common name: Motoro Stingray, Ocellate River Stingray
Genus: Potamotrygon
Order: Rajiformes
Class Elasmobranchii
Family: Potamotrygonidae
Size: 18" (45cm) (usually, but can grow larger)
Origin: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela (Amazon River & Orinoco River)
Tank setup: A minimum of 100 Gallons is needed (IMO), sand is preferred over gravel, and no sharp decorations, no decorations is even better.
Compatibility: Armed with a harmful spike stingrays are capable of killing most fish, but the sting is really only for defense and not attack, they are generally peaceful towards other fishes although they may try to smother tankmates, plecos are not suitable tank mates though as they are known to suck on the rays.
Temperature: 75-82F (24-28C)
Hardness: 10.0dH
pH: 5.0-6.0
Feeding: Shrimps, small fish, shellfish and worms
Also, there were a few threads from a while back with more info, but i can't remember what they were called, so i will try and hunt those down and send you the links.
I agree you are doing the right thing. I've attached a pic of a motoro at my local zoo. Its not the best pic but as you can see it dwarfs my handoscar300 said:
ARasberry said:
if you keep him you will get so attached and then either go broke like my and get a bigger tank or have to deal with selling it. If you fatten it up I am sure you could sell the little guy for alot more than you bought him for though.
It is already nearly impossible to let him go....by the way his name is Alexander the Great or Alex for short. I have been looking into the cost of a bigger tank and bloody hell they are expensive!
I have been in contact with some zoos to see if they would want him but no luck as of yet.
Worst case I have to take him back to the store I got him from. (which I still don't want to do because I want him to have a good home not just another unsuspecting customer that will kill him)
For right now he seems to be doing well, I have rearranged all my fish so his only company is small schooling fish that hang out up top or two small bala sharks. On the bright side the store I got him from said that I could bring him back now or later when he gets to be more than I can handle, so I have time to try to figure out what to do.
I have been in contact with some zoos to see if they would want him but no luck as of yet.
Worst case I have to take him back to the store I got him from. (which I still don't want to do because I want him to have a good home not just another unsuspecting customer that will kill him)
For right now he seems to be doing well, I have rearranged all my fish so his only company is small schooling fish that hang out up top or two small bala sharks. On the bright side the store I got him from said that I could bring him back now or later when he gets to be more than I can handle, so I have time to try to figure out what to do.
this is quite a dilemma. if you look hard enough, you can find a large tank for a good price. at that size, you may have some time yet. maybe you can scrap together enough money to buy a 180gal. tank with no stand. put that baby on cinder blocks and put some sand and a regular aquarium light on it (I love eco-complete amazon substrate, it'll make the water soft, just like rays like).
here is a website with their prices. without a stand you can do alright if you put a black sheet over the cinder blocks to make it look good. i am rooting for you to keep this deal of a lifetime fish and step up to the challenge and enjoy it. I know money must be tight as it is with me, but this could be rewarding. good luck.
http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2
here is a website with their prices. without a stand you can do alright if you put a black sheet over the cinder blocks to make it look good. i am rooting for you to keep this deal of a lifetime fish and step up to the challenge and enjoy it. I know money must be tight as it is with me, but this could be rewarding. good luck.
http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2
look here too, sometimes you may find a deal: http://portland.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/search?areaID=9&subAreaID=&query=aquarium&catAbbreviation=sss
