A lot of questions:

[spring007]

Hey guys, as some of you know, I got my motoro about a month ago and he started eating earthworms today ( I had to starve him for 2 days..)
Now, here are my questions: Btw he is about 8" in disk diameter:
1) Varied diet: how bout krill, market shrimp (I need to get smaller ones), earthworms, pellets and blood/black worms?
2) Should I try to get him onto pellets right away or should I feed him with earthworms for some more time before I try that?
3) Other fish: I have three flag tails in the same tank and they, for some reason, think that the orange spots on my ray is some kinda food and keep on picking on it. Should I get rid of them?
4) What is their "natural" growth rate? I.e, how many inches per year do they grow in the wild?
5) At what size do they attain sexual maturity?
6) Is it true that if you get them to mate they don't grow any larger?

Sorry guys, some of these questions may be dumb for you..Please bare with me..

 

[abortedsoul]

Good questions- some of which I hadn't even thought to ask.

Some of your questions can be answered by the sticky that Miles wrote. I only have a small contribution- if you chop up the shrimp into smaller pieces, and feed it in the same manner and at the same time as the normal diet, it has worked better for me.

 

[sodenoshirayuki]

1. market shrimp can just be cut up, no need to buy small ones. Bloodworms and blackworms is a waste of money, stick with earthworms.
2. Make sure your ray is healthy and well fed before you starve again for pellets. Tried once starving almost a month just to get a tiger on pellets. So obviously, it had to be well fed before starving.
3. Not sure, I always though fei feng only eat algae. Might be a good idea though before a chunk gets bitten off.
4. Depends on food and water quality
5. Depends on alot of factors, and size is not really one of them. Id say usually around 2-3 years old.
6. no...

 

[Nic]

Hey guys, as some of you know, I got my motoro about a month ago and he started eating earthworms today ( I had to starve him for 2 days..) ive starved for weeks 2 days is nothing...
Now, here are my questions: Btw he is about 8" in disk diameter:
1) Varied diet: how bout krill, market shrimp (I need to get smaller ones), earthworms, pellets and blood/black worms? forget the krill not good in the long run anyway.... just cut the shrim real small
2) Should I try to get him onto pellets right away or should I feed him with earthworms for some more time before I try that? offer them with the pellets if not fatten the ray up and starve it for a week or so hungry rays usually eat anything
3) Other fish: I have three flag tails in the same tank and they, for some reason, think that the orange spots on my ray is some kinda food and keep on picking on it. Should I get rid of them? id move them
4) What is their "natural" growth rate? I.e, how many inches per year do they grow in the wild? feeding and water params are key factors
5) At what size do they attain sexual maturity?all depends on the ray
6) Is it true that if you get them to mate they don't grow any larger? where did you hear that

Sorry guys, some of these questions may be dumb for you..Please bare with me..

Good questions- some of which I hadn't even thought to ask.

Some of your questions can be answered by the sticky that Miles wrote. I only have a small contribution- if you chop up the shrimp into smaller pieces, and feed it in the same manner and at the same time as the normal diet, it has worked better for me.

1. market shrimp can just be cut up, no need to buy small ones. Bloodworms and blackworms is a waste of money, stick with earthworms.
2. Make sure your ray is healthy and well fed before you starve again for pellets. Tried once starving almost a month just to get a tiger on pellets. So obviously, it had to be well fed before starving.
3. Not sure, I always though fei feng only eat algae. Might be a good idea though before a chunk gets bitten off.
4. Depends on food and water quality
5. Depends on alot of factors, and size is not really one of them. Id say usually around 2-3 years old. this is true
6. no...

and what they said

 

[spring007]

Good questions- some of which I hadn't even thought to ask.

Some of your questions can be answered by the sticky that Miles wrote. I only have a small contribution- if you chop up the shrimp into smaller pieces, and feed it in the same manner and at the same time as the normal diet, it has worked better for me.

Should I wait for some more time before I start him on the shrimp diet or should I do it right away?

1. market shrimp can just be cut up, no need to buy small ones. Bloodworms and blackworms is a waste of money, stick with earthworms.
2. Make sure your ray is healthy and well fed before you starve again for pellets. Tried once starving almost a month just to get a tiger on pellets. So obviously, it had to be well fed before starving.
3. Not sure, I always though fei feng only eat algae. Might be a good idea though before a chunk gets bitten off.
4. Depends on food and water quality
5. Depends on alot of factors, and size is not really one of them. Id say usually around 2-3 years old.
6. no...

About earthworms: Do you get them from the pet store or should I dig them from my backyard? I know that there will be a lot of pesticides and stuff in the earthworm's body if I dig it out of my yard...Over here at pets mart, it costs $4 for 12 large earthworms! and my ray ate three today!

and what they said

The pet store guy where I got the ray from told me that they DO NOT grow IF they are mated at a smaller size...He is "Supposed" to be very knowledgeable but I reckon he is not..

 

[Nic]

go for the shrimp now.... why would you wait...

 

[Nic]

Should I wait for some more time before I start him on the shrimp diet or should I do it right away?

go for shrimp now if he will take it

About earthworms: Do you get them from the pet store or should I dig them from my backyard? I know that there will be a lot of pesticides and stuff in the earthworm's body if I dig it out of my yard...Over here at pets mart, it costs $4 for 12 large earthworms! and my ray ate three today!

walmart sells night crawlers 24 for about 4$ might be cheaper.... do not dig them from your yard pesticides fertilizers any other polutants you dont know about its not a good idea

The pet store guy where I got the ray from told me that they DO NOT grow IF they are mated at a smaller size...He is "Supposed" to be very knowledgeable but I reckon he is not..

yeah he is a idiot to put it nicely

 

[spring007]

Alright...Ill get some market shrimp tomorrow and get him started on them..Hopefully he will eat them...!

 

[keepinfish]

Hey guys, as some of you know, I got my motoro about a month ago and he started eating earthworms today ( I had to starve him for 2 days..)
Now, here are my questions: Btw he is about 8" in disk diameter:
1) Varied diet: how bout krill, market shrimp (I need to get smaller ones), earthworms, pellets and blood/black worms? i feed shrimp and worms
2) Should I try to get him onto pellets right away or should I feed him with earthworms for some more time before I try that? it will not happen, get him fat and healthy before you try that.
3) Other fish: I have three flag tails in the same tank and they, for some reason, think that the orange spots on my ray is some kinda food and keep on picking on it. Should I get rid of them? get them out now if they are sucking on your rays, will damage the slime coat.
4) What is their "natural" growth rate? I.e, how many inches per year do they grow in the wild? here is my growth rate of my female motoro doubled in size in 2 years. 6" disk to 12" disc, 10" long to 22" long in just 2 years.
5) At what size do they attain sexual maturity? around 10-13
6) Is it true that if you get them to mate they don't grow any larger? UHHH NO

Sorry guys, some of these questions may be dumb for you..Please bare with me..

GOOD LUCK

 

[ashleysomething]

Some great feedback. I was going to say the same things, but it looks like they've covered it all, lol. You and your Motoro are going to be awesome. Have fun and let us know how things start working out for you.