A new tank is cycling right now for a new ray that I am planning on buying. I have only kept one other ray so as a beginner do you think I should keep the tank bare bottom? I like the look of it a lot better and don't want to have to deal with sand. How often do you guys vacuum the bottom of the tank? Just with the weekly water change? Is there anything I should be aware of? Thanks everyone! I wouldn't want anything to go wrong with this tank.
Bare bottom tank- ray keepers
- Thread starter bahamaqt00
- Start date
Hi Ashley,
I am new to Rays but I thought I would try sand and after seeing how they like to sift the sand and how they bury when disturbed I would not want to keep them without it.
I Vaccuum my sand once per week but the rays do push it around and cause bare patches, the sand bottom is constantly on the move. Sometimes I use a long handled planter and just level it all out to make sure there are no dead patches to build up bacteria.
My Pearl is very active and is a boisterous feeder, the little motoro girl likes to bury and hide in the sand a lot.
IMO you are missing a lot of very natural behaviour if you do not use sand and that seems a shame to me.
My Motoro was put on bare from birth so knew nothing of sand and as soon as she hit the new tank she buried....it is "factory fitted"
I am new to Rays but I thought I would try sand and after seeing how they like to sift the sand and how they bury when disturbed I would not want to keep them without it.
I Vaccuum my sand once per week but the rays do push it around and cause bare patches, the sand bottom is constantly on the move. Sometimes I use a long handled planter and just level it all out to make sure there are no dead patches to build up bacteria.
My Pearl is very active and is a boisterous feeder, the little motoro girl likes to bury and hide in the sand a lot.
IMO you are missing a lot of very natural behaviour if you do not use sand and that seems a shame to me.
My Motoro was put on bare from birth so knew nothing of sand and as soon as she hit the new tank she buried....it is "factory fitted"
I'm kinda torn on sand or bare bottom, i had gravel 1st and then switched to bare bottom on my current tank. I like the ease of cleaning on the bare bottom, you see the poop or whatever on the bottom and just vaccum that spot, vs. with sand and gravel you have to do the whole thing. But the more i see people with sand it makes me want to try it..
Thanks guys!
I would much rather have bare bottom for the simple fact that I like to be able to see my ray! I mean the retic that I had before my current one was ALWAYS buried. But if it stresses them to not be able to bury, then I will put sand for them.
I would much rather have bare bottom for the simple fact that I like to be able to see my ray! I mean the retic that I had before my current one was ALWAYS buried. But if it stresses them to not be able to bury, then I will put sand for them.
I think that if you keep Rays you need to be prepared for lots of tank cleaning and water changes therefore why not clean the gravel IF they are enriched by the activity?
Just Toby;4249937; said:
Well that's what I am saying. I would like the tank to be bare so I can see them and they won't blend in or hide. BUT, if they need it to feel more secure and comfortable then I will get sand for them. I'm just seeing more and more people do BB so I don't think the rays care too much. I was just looking for info on how to maintain a BB tank better. Or if it was harder to maintain that with sand.
bahamaqt00;4249933; said:
My Pearl is never buried so I think it comes down the individual and maybe lighting etc...I am not saying it stresses them not to bury as I really do not know but you can imagine if your old ray liked to bury the whole time it may not be nice to not be able to?
If you look at shy fish like Pirahna then in a bare tank they are skittish, if you give loads of cover they come out a lot and seem more bold.
on a different light...how about this, what if the ray was captive bred, and never experienced sand, would it be like : wtf is this thing under me!
My friend has a ray that was sort of like this, he had the sand, and the ray would actually make an empty patch where he would rest or sleep (?) on. Instead of burying itself, it would make that patch and stay there.
So he decided to remove the sand (he told me it was a grueling endeavor) and when he finished doing that, the ray became alot more active, constantly moving around the tank.
The question is though; why is it moving....is it looking for the sand?
My friend has a ray that was sort of like this, he had the sand, and the ray would actually make an empty patch where he would rest or sleep (?) on. Instead of burying itself, it would make that patch and stay there.
So he decided to remove the sand (he told me it was a grueling endeavor) and when he finished doing that, the ray became alot more active, constantly moving around the tank.
The question is though; why is it moving....is it looking for the sand?
I started my first rays with BB because I wanted to keep an eye on uneaten food and eaten food that'd come out the other end. 8 months later I use fine gravel in one ray tank and have another BB.
The rays in the tank with gravel rarely hide under it and do spend a lot of time sifting through it for food. The rays that are in the BB are WC, the male frequently looks to me like he'd want to hide but the female (who was initially so shy she wouldn't breathe if I was near the tank) doesn't seem bothered.
I think, in time, the BB tank will also get gravel (I use Caribsea Peace River). I don't keep the gravel very deep and I don't need to vacuum it, just occasionally remove larger lumps of poop that the filters can't grab.
The rays in the tank with gravel rarely hide under it and do spend a lot of time sifting through it for food. The rays that are in the BB are WC, the male frequently looks to me like he'd want to hide but the female (who was initially so shy she wouldn't breathe if I was near the tank) doesn't seem bothered.
I think, in time, the BB tank will also get gravel (I use Caribsea Peace River). I don't keep the gravel very deep and I don't need to vacuum it, just occasionally remove larger lumps of poop that the filters can't grab.