I noticed recently that my round stingray has acquired brown spots on its underside (also barely visible from the top). a few days ago there were two, now there are 8. my water parameters are great and the temp is 76F. He has been in my tank for 2 months and has been doing great! still eating like a pig as well. He seems to be bothered by them and the cleaner shrimp approach the spots and pick at it (which he does and does not like). Has anyone seen this before? what do you think it could be? I have a long spined urchin in my tank as well.. could he have run into it? he is very clumsy. Thanks!
brown spots on my ray!?
- Thread starter foster200
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I have a female round ray and she has to spots like that on her wing also. I talked to the Aquarium Of The Pacific and they told me it could be some kind of parisite but couldnt be treated unless a culture could be taken like a scraping and then anylized buy a marine vet so mine still has them but doest seem to bother her. She gave birth 3 months ago to 2 pups but they dont have anything like that. I wouldnt worry unless they start getting red around the area or maybe zoodiver will coment and by the way 76 degrees is to warm for an adult to live long term, should be below 70
From looking at the pics, I'd guess those to be puncture wounds. Keep an eye on them. If they get discolored around the edge, or expand - that would be more indicative of a parasite (coepod of some type). The clean edges make me think it was done by a sharp object rather than something bitting it like a parasite would.
These spots? ...
At this point, I'm not convinced of anything parasitic - though because there is now an opened wound, you'd want to monitor your ray very closely to avoid any resident parasites from taking advantage of that, along with secondary bacterial/fungal infections. You mentioned having a long-spined urchin in the same tank as this ray?? May I ask whhhyyyy?
Not condemning you, just feel that you should be aware of the fact that the spines on Diadema antillarum are venemous and when punctured through flesh, can often break (shatter), leaving pieces embedded. Infection in these instances is extremely high.
Knowing that this urchin shares space with your ray, I'd look to him first as the culprit of these spots, and be ready to administer antibiotics soon if you start to notice any further discoloration, pink/red streaking, necrotic tissues around the entry point, puss, or altered behaviors of your ray. It's possible the "Brown/black" you are seeing is pieces of the spines splintered into the ray.
At this point, I'm not convinced of anything parasitic - though because there is now an opened wound, you'd want to monitor your ray very closely to avoid any resident parasites from taking advantage of that, along with secondary bacterial/fungal infections. You mentioned having a long-spined urchin in the same tank as this ray?? May I ask whhhyyyy?
Not condemning you, just feel that you should be aware of the fact that the spines on Diadema antillarum are venemous and when punctured through flesh, can often break (shatter), leaving pieces embedded. Infection in these instances is extremely high.
Knowing that this urchin shares space with your ray, I'd look to him first as the culprit of these spots, and be ready to administer antibiotics soon if you start to notice any further discoloration, pink/red streaking, necrotic tissues around the entry point, puss, or altered behaviors of your ray. It's possible the "Brown/black" you are seeing is pieces of the spines splintered into the ray.
That make sence since the wounds are one the edges where the ray would be pumping its wings maybe down on to the Urchin