Bought "Tea Cup" Rays *Need Help*

[ScubaGuy]

Well first of all let me say that this site is awesome and it has given me some great reading!

I have two motoros and now I have 5 "Tea Cup" rays. I know, I know... 5?

Well they were in a little local pet store and you should have seen how unhappy they looked in a 25 gallon Aquarium. Plus I don't think the guy knew much. You should have seen how he "captured" them for the bag. My heart almost stopped.

Anyway I have 3 that are eating but I have 2 that aren't eating. I have tried Squid, Clams, Mussels, Earthworms, blood worms and Mysis Shrimp.
Right now I am feeding a medley of Squid, Clams, Mussels, blood worms and Mysis Shrimp but still no go on the two little ones. I have had them for 6 days now and I'm worried. One seems to be loosing pigment in its pectoral fin (Blotches here and there around the edges). No Fungus or any physical damage that I can see.

They are at 82oC right now and there is plenty of water current (Big filter and two 12" air stones)... maybe to much? pH is a little high at 8.3 as my motoros are at 7.6 and are doing great but of course they were CB and these Tea Cups are definitely WC. At the present there is no Ammonia.

Any help or hints on how to get these two to eat would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in Advance

 

[PinkLady]

Just as an FYI, by buying all 5 from the pet store, you just made them see them as major money makers and now they're going to order another shipment of probably 10. As a huge animal lover, I understand it's hard seeing them suffer in the pet store...but I never buy them unless it's something I really was going to buy anyway, because you're just encouraging the store to keep purchasing them and stocking them.

Good luck with your little rays.

 

[FishDog]

My first question would be why is their tank pH 8.3 and the motoros 7.6? What is different about the two tanks? My second question is can you describe the blotches on their feet a little better, maybe even a pic. For now, keep there water clean, the lights off, and cover the tank to let them settle. As far as foods, have you tried blackworms or really small ghost shrimp? Most wild rays will not accept dead or frozen food. You have to start them on live and then ween them to dead food.

 

[Austin]

what size tank and what's a "big filter"?

 

[skynoch]

Your best bet is the live blackworms to get them going. It will probably take a drive to Calgary to find some but it could be the difference between them living or not. I'm going to guess the white blotches are probably the ray healing from ammonia burns. Were the areas red looking before? They were probably all shipped in the same bag and then put into to small a tank which I'm sure at some point caused some burns.

 

[ScubaGuy]

My first question would be why is their tank pH 8.3 and the motoros 7.6? What is different about the two tanks?

One tank is at work and in a different area where the water is supplied by a different water treatment plant. Therefore different pH levels

My second question is can you describe the blotches on their feet a little better, maybe even a pic.

Ok I'll try to get a a picture tomorrow but I may have to borrow a better camera than the one I have.

But the blotches aren't on the feet. They are on the pectoral fin. The sides of the disk and also on the snout.

For now, keep there water clean, the lights off, and cover the tank to let them settle.

Ok the lights are on a timer and I will shut them off as of now. I have this tank in the basement and there is little to no traffic other than me and feeding. But I will cover the front side so they don't see me when I feed.

As far as foods, have you tried blackworms or really small ghost shrimp? Most wild rays will not accept dead or frozen food. You have to start them on live and then ween them to dead food.

I haven't tried the blackworms or Ghost shrimp as I am finding that hard to come by but I will check out a few more places tomorrow.


Thanks for the advice fishdog.

what size tank and what's a "big filter"?

The tank is 150 gallons its more wide and not so tall. There is a FX5 as well as two 12" air stones hooked up to a Coralife Super Luft Pump so the water is moving lots

 

[ScubaGuy]

Your best bet is the live blackworms to get them going. It will probably take a drive to Calgary to find some but it could be the difference between them living or not. I'm going to guess the white blotches are probably the ray healing from ammonia burns. Were the areas red looking before? They were probably all shipped in the same bag and then put into to small a tank which I'm sure at some point caused some burns.

No they weren't red that I saw and they are not red now. They were at the store for about 3 weeks. They were on a tank that was half bare and half marble sized river stones. where is Calgary would I find live blackworms?

Now it could be my imagination but it looks as if the blotch (discoloration) on the ones snout is getting bigger.

 

[skynoch]

Riverfront is where I've got them before and the only thing that has worked for some of my rays.
I'd have to see pics of the blotches but from what you described it seems like ammonia burns healing but if they were in the tank 3 weeks they should have healed from shipping by then unless it just happened before you got them or on your drive home.

 

[ScubaGuy]

Riverfront is where I've got them before and the only thing that has worked for some of my rays.
I'd have to see pics of the blotches but from what you described it seems like ammonia burns healing but if they were in the tank 3 weeks they should have healed from shipping by then unless it just happened before you got them or on your drive home.

I found live ghost shrimp locally so I'm going to try that and if that does work I'm off to Clagary.

 

[sbrodacz]

Did they eat the ghost shrimp? I'm kind of in the same boat, can't get mine to eat. It has only been a day, but I'd still like to give them a variety just encase I can get them to eat. I was planning on picking up ghost shrimp tonight.