Can I have rays in my tank?

[rED O]

I would like to get two motoro rays. The male ray is 10'' and the female is 8''. My tank when the glass gets here will be 426 gallons. Why I am wondering if I could have them is I am going to have 6 oscars and a arowana. I am not worried about the aro but the oscars... I was hoping that having 3 large tinfoil barbs for the oscars to beat on, that they would go after the tinfoil barbs not the rays. Also in a tank with a footprint of 88''x40'' I was hoping there would be enough room for them not to fight. If I gave the rays a cave to hide, sand to dig in, ect. Can I have 6 oscars and 2 rays in a tank with out major conflict?

thanks

oh the oscars are ranging from 5'' to 13''

 

[tank125]

sounds like it will work

 

[Nic]

should be fine.... water Q will be biggest issue as oscars are messy eaters... lots of large water changes and serious filtration and you should be good...

 

[rED O]

thanks. I was told that as well. I am going to have only a 70 gallon sump but with 2640 gph running threw it. I will also have a long gravel vac to keep the sand clean.

 

[Nic]

only need a 1" or less of sand.... i would add a fx5 or similar for better mechanical filtration... use the 70 gallon as a submerged media sump....

 

[rED O]

only need a 1" or less of sand.... i would add a fx5 or similar for better mechanical filtration... use the 70 gallon as a submerged media sump....

thanks for the suggestion

for sand thats what I was thinking just enough to cover them selfs. so lets say one of my oscars pairs lay eggs and the rays comes over and the oscars fend him off, will the oscars get stung or the rays should know to back down?

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

In addition to what everybody else said, only thing to worry about is that a 10in. ray will probably eat a 5in Oscar.

You need to take into account growth rates as well...

 

[rED O]

well the oscars grow fast. I got this oscar not to long ago at 1 inch. Are rays fast growers?

 

[rED O]

so lets say one of my oscars pairs lay eggs and the rays comes over and the oscars fend him off, will the oscars get stung or the rays should know to back down?

do rays have any tolerance before they sting another fish?

 

[Nic]

id be more worried about the rays eyes getting eaten.... personally i would ditch one or the other.... there are lots of other bottom dwellers you could get...