Breeder Pup Tanks Sand vs. No Sand

[turkeyboy85]

Just like the title guys.
I remember a while back having a discussion with Mike about this.
He stated he saw a decrease in pup deaths after switching his pup tanks to bare bottom.

I want to keep this simple and about what breeders are doing and what they see. NO slamming on bare bottom vs sand for stingray tanks. I want to keep it simple about what breeders do with newborn pups.

Example: I'll start
Rays Bred: Motoro
Litter sizes: 4-7
Total qty of Pups bred: 16
Pups Lost after Birth: 2
Substrate in Pup tank: My first litter of 4 was with sand and I lost 2. I then switched to barebottom and did not have any deaths the next two litters.

 

[T1KARMANN]

i have sand as a new borns pups instinct is to cover its self just like in the wild

 

[turkeyboy85]

i have sand as a new borns pups instinct is to cover its self just like in the wild

I know you are a big sand guy, can you fill in the rest of the information?

Rays Bred:
Litter sizes:
Qty of Pups bred:
Pups Lost after Birth:

Thanks

 

[jeffers]

i have only had 2 litters but i will put my info down.

Rays Bred: hybrids
Litter sizes:10-14
Qty Pups: 24
Pups Lost after Birth: 1 but it died before i got to them in the main tank could have been still born
Substrate in Pup tank: bare bottom

 

[keepinfish]

i am not a "breeder" but have bred motoro a few years ago.

Rays Bred: Motoro
Litter sizes: 2-9
Total qty of Pups bred: never actually kept count around 30 pups or so.
Pups Lost after Birth: 0
Substrate in Pup tank: bare bottom on pup tank.

i dont think the death rates of pups have much to do with substrate though. IMO.

 

[spotfin]

i am not a "breeder" but have bred motoro a few years ago.

Rays Bred: Motoro
Litter sizes: 2-9
Total qty of Pups bred: never actually kept count around 30 pups or so.
Pups Lost after Birth: 0
Substrate in Pup tank: bare bottom on pup tank.

i dont think the death rates of pups have much to do with substrate though. IMO.

X2

Rays Bred: marble
Litter sizes:1 pup each, 3 litters
Qty Pups: 3
Pups Lost after Birth: none
Substrate in Pup tank: same substrate that was in the main tank


Rays Bred: hystrix
Litter sizes: 2
Qty Pups: 2
Pups Lost after Birth: 0. They are still in the pup tank
Substrate in Pup tank: same substrate as in main tank

 

[bcfd144]

Rays Bred: Motoro Pair #1
Litter sizes:2 first, 1 second
Qty Pups: 3
Pups Lost after Birth: none
Substrate in Pup tank: bare bottom


Rays Bred: Motoro Pair #2
Litter sizes:6
Qty Pups: 6
Pups Lost after Birth: none
Substrate in Pup tank: bare bottom

 

[T1KARMANN]

I know you are a big sand guy, can you fill in the rest of the information?

Rays Bred:
Litter sizes:
Qty of Pups bred:
Pups Lost after Birth:

Thanks

P14 x 15 pups (largest litter 6 pups)
Leo / bd x 8 pups (largest litter 4 pups)
P14xleo/bd x 6 pups ( largest litter 3 pups)

No deaths all are still alive

I did have 2 x p14 pups born premature with yolk sack that died but to tell the truth I don't know anyone who has kept a pup alive with yolk sack
Not saying its never happened I just don't know anyone


If a pup that has only been alive 1 hour will cover its self with sand then surely that tells us they need it

Rays have two forms of defence

Step 1 cover themselves with sand
Step 2 sting

No sand the ray will move straight to step 2 and sting

A tank with sand is more stable biologically than a bare tank


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[vamptrev]

I have always liked bare bottom because you can see exactly what is going on. You can see the sex of the pups very easily, you can see wht they are eating, and less chance of spreading parasites from ray to ray if anything were to happen.

Ive bred alot of rays and will always keep newborns on bare bottom until about 2 months old and stable. After that i will transfer them to diff tanks.

Ive been breeding leos for a few years now and have only lost maybe 5ish pups


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[Raymann88]

Motoros
2 litters of 2 pups each
4 pups total
Loss 0
Bare bottom

I prefer bare bottom - easy to clean, keep track of food eaten / not eaten. No waste or uneaten food trapped and polluting tank. I agree with T1 the pups would feel more secure in sand, but I keep the lights off for the first few days to help them settle in.