Hystrix and Reticulata are some of the more common rays offered in the trade. As michael said, cheap doesn't necessarily mean easy. In fact, they seem to be more susceptible to water fluctuations than some of the other expensive rays. Price depends on supply and demand, but back to the thread subject
...
I wouldn't lump hystrix in with the easiest of the rays for the beginner. Small motoros get my vote, along with humerosa and scobina. Just because the ray's adult size can be quite large doesn't mean that you can't keep it in a tank for a while.
As far as water issues go, keeping your parameters steady is the key, pH being the main thing. Large fluctuations will do just about any ray in. If your filter is properly cycled and rated for your current setup, it takes care of itself. Weekly water changes are sufficient, although with my setup, I can go 2-3 weeks between changes, but my filtration is overkill, haha. Let the test kits be your guide. Also routine substrate cleaning and filter cleaning is a must as dirty filters affect water quality as well.
Just as an example, one of my setups is a 125 gallon tank. The filtration for it includes a converted 29 gallon tank for a wet/dry with filter pads, crushed coral as a ph booster, 12 gallons of bio-balls, and lava rock. My overflow and pump are rated at 1200 gph. This handles the water quality issue, while 2 AquaClear 500's handle the mechanical issue. Make sure your tank is fully cycled and stable before adding rays.
skillzdatkillz: I am glad to hear that you are doing research, instead of jumping in with both feet
.
