Bit of advise for a newcomer...?

[emeryric]

Hi, as a newcomer here i would appreciate a bit of advise on a new setup. Next week I take delivery of a new 110 gallon display tank (house is filling up fast with these...) and I am giving serious consideration to
a pair of rays.


Ideally I would like to house a pair of motoro's and my LFS advised me that this would be adaquate space although having read into this I am not so sure and providing more space for them within the next year or two will be inlikely. (as I say the house seems to be getting smaller and pregressively more like that bond villian lair below the sea...). These rays would be the only fish in this tank which would reduced the biological load and over spec'ed filtration and plenty of water changes will not be an issue as I have plenty of RO available for my discus tanks.

If 2 rays is too much then what about a single animal? I have not been abvle to find many details on how sociable these fish are in captivity. Is it an advantage or a hinderance to have 2 or more rays cohabiting? If motoro's would be too large then could anyone advise any other species for a relative beginner? As I say I am comfortable with providing appropriate water chemistry having had many years experience now with wld discus and wild angels as well as a number of south american catfish and cichlids, however I have no experiance with the temperament, feeding and health issues etc associated with rays.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[West1]

Hope no one bombs me for this, but I just got my first Motoro (peru) at 4" disk and I'm housing him in a 150 (to small of a tank for life). The Ray is mine Temp. so this works out great. I can learn how to house Rays and when bigger I can give him back (long story), So I thought of maybe Y don't you get a Motoro since they are the best beginner Rays and when bigger, sell it or whatever...
As for the best Rays for that size tank, I think nothing. The smallest Ray is the Scobina, I believe they Max out at 12" disk and are very very very hard to get. I do hear that they are a lil more delicate that most Rays.
G/L

 

[cszachury]

IMO, a 110 is way to small for two motoro's, let alone one. I could see it as a grow out tank till they are bigger, but even then that's risky. Plus, upgrading doesn't sound realistic to you in the next few years with your limited space/whatever reasons. You may not think a ray puts a lot of load on your filtration, but they do, and two put excessive amounts. Just my opinion I would do a lot of research on these rays, and search this site for information. This site has tons of literature to read up on! Good luck with your tank.

 

[emeryric]

Cheers for the advise.

Just to clear up a point I wasn't implying that the bioloigical load would be low, just that I'm aware that many people keep large fish (arawana etc.) in the upper eschilons of their tanks as well and I have no intenions of doing this, hence reduced load... I do take your point though, 2 sizable carnivores would certainly need large capacity filtration

Any other advise on keeping a single smaller species? I am particularly interested in how social these creatures and whether it is appropriate to keep them individually?

Thanks.

 

[West1]

Cheers for the advise.

Just to clear up a point I wasn't implying that the bioloigical load would be low, just that I'm aware that many people keep large fish (arawana etc.) in the upper eschilons of their tanks as well and I have no intenions of doing this, hence reduced load... I do take your point though, 2 sizable carnivores would certainly need large capacity filtration

Any other advise on keeping a single smaller species? I am particularly interested in how social these creatures and whether it is appropriate to keep them individually?

Thanks.

I say go for it. One pc of advice I do give you strongly is check your Params constantly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just because you get a good routine going, don't let that make you think that you have a good H2o changing going on. I have 2 atf,1 red tail payara comm. pleco and my Ray and I do 50% H2o changes every 4 days to keep them healthy. I say do it man, just know you can only house him till hes about 8-MAYBEEEEE 10" disc size.

 

[Nic]

i would only keep one in that tank and you will only have a year 2 years tops...

 

[shoefreak03]

what is the footprint of the 110g you are taking delivery of? if the footprint is wider than higher, then it should be okay as ray prefer more width than height.

you are right about the bioload, motoros (rays in general) can really mess up the water parameters fast especially in a smaller tank so plenty of good filtration and wc is neccessary but i am sure you are fully aware of this. suggest taking on a large sump to increase the volume of water in the closed system.

to answer your question about the socialbility of a single motoro, you should be fine. a heathy ray in general will consistantly crusing around the tank and swimming up along side the glass. if you put in a air bubbler, you can occassionally see it floating on top of it. good luck and enjoy.

 

[emeryric]

Cheers Guys,

FYI tank will be 1.5m x 0.6m wide x 0.5m Deep so may not be ideal as abit more than 0.6m width would be prefered right?

Volume is 450litres but I estimate useable volume will be more like 420 or 110gal.

I dont have a sump mind you and was planning to use 2 large canisters but I guess I could rethink this...all depends whether or not housing a ray in this size tank is a suitable proposition or and whether I should wait and invest in a more suitable home ( for me and the ray )in a year or twos time.

What would you uys suggest is a reasonable sized aquarium for long-term housing of a single animal?

 

[Miles]

Everything you mentioned sounds great except for the size of the tank.. It will only last em a year or so..

You've done you're homework and it sounds like you are ready for rays, just need more turning space, even the smallest species need a 72x30" tank!!

Good luck and Welcome to MFK!! Post some pix of your other fish!

 

[Nic]

Cheers Guys,

FYI tank will be 1.5m x 0.6m wide x 0.5m Deep so may not be ideal as abit more than 0.6m width would be prefered right?

Volume is 450litres but I estimate useable volume will be more like 420 or 110gal.

I dont have a sump mind you and was planning to use 2 large canisters but I guess I could rethink this...all depends whether or not housing a ray in this size tank is a suitable proposition or and whether I should wait and invest in a more suitable home ( for me and the ray )in a year or twos time.

What would you uys suggest is a reasonable sized aquarium for long-term housing of a single animal?

waiting would be your best bet right now.... give you plenty of time to learn everything you possible can....