ATF/Dorado/Goonch/Datnoid PICS!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Great tank of beasts. I haven't looked at this thread since June and forgot what impressive fish you have. Continue the updates when you can.
 
Thanks guys, i'll update every so often for sure ... thanks for the info Chicx, i'll see if i can count them tonight or at least get a good picture and blow it up to see ... once again thanks for the kind words everyone

Sent from my SCH-I605 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
Quick pic of the VATF .... not a great shot, but shows his beauty, but probably not good enough to count the scales ... he's got to be every bit of 18 inches considering he is a hair longer than my Goliaths, and much thicker
uploadfromtaptalk1390157098540.jpg

Sent from my SCH-I605 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
Looking good! He's beastly for sure. I can't tell anything from that picture though other than that he's beautiful.

Love the frankie lips photobomb too lol
 
Thanks everyone! :D

I actually have a question for you ray keepers out there, or maybe a few questions ... i was wondering if theres anyway to tell if a male ray is mature and ready to breed by looking at the claspers? Reason why i'm asking this is for a few reasons ... when i got him his claspers were rolled and large, and he did give the female attention, slamming down on top of her, and sometimes seemed like he was stuck to her, and also sneaking up and biting her, so i assumed he was mature and ready, but she had the pups late August and she's still not pregnant ... now in the last few weeks he has become super aggressive towards her, like chasing her around the tank, and biting her a lot more, to the point that the edges of her disk are really getting chewed up, and maybe its my imagination but his claspers look a bit bigger and maybe swollen a bit ... maybe he fully matured in the last few months? Is there any other behavior that would indicate that they are actively trying to make babies, other than catching them in the act? ... and how much damage can the female take before i should separate them? Just feel bad because he truly has become relentless in his pursuit and abuse of her, and i dont want her to become too stressed and risk her health, but then again if this is like a slow build up towards actually doing the deed i dont want to separate them and ruin the breeding possibility when its about to happen ... also should add the female is still behaving completely normal, so its not like emergency time, but i would be lying if i said i wasnt a bit concerned with the way she's getting chewed up

Sent from my SCH-I605 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
Trev might be better to ask..... I TRY to breed rays. Trev BREEDS rays.

But in regards to what you're asking...... I've lost several females over the years and I'd guess stress induced by males to be primary cause. Once they get tore up I start watching closely, first time they miss a meal the male gets moved. Females WILL damage the claspers if the males don't get the hint, but usually the female is the one that ends up worse off, quits eating then it's a fight to bring her back. Problem is most don't understand the importance of separation till it's too late, then by the time another tank is up and going the move to that tank is the nail in the coffin.


I've got rays that are proven breeders, arrived pregnant and have never produced pups for me. IF you ask me, rays aren't going to be near as likely to breed in tanks like we have - predatory communities. IF pups are what you're after I'd be tossing them in a 180 by themselves and baby them - lots and lots of food and very regular water changes.


My theory is that this is why I have so much trouble getting any pups. Too many rays, of too many different species in with too many other fish.

My thoughts are to keep the lady rays happy in separate tanks on the main system, use the largest tank for the display/ predatory community tank and just keep males in there, then move them in with the ladies, then back out after they get the deed done or hurt her, whichever comes first.
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com