Hi!
My name is Meghan, this is actually my first post here on these forums (Which I am SO glad I found btw) I guess a little background first...I am moving in a little over a month, which is why I am considering another tank, I now have the room for it. I first fell in love with Stingrays when my boyfriend and I went to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden for our anniversary. We did a shark dive program, and included with it, was the stingray meeting. We got to feed and touch the stingrays and their pups, and they were indeed like little puppies! We recently just got back from Seaworld and Discovery Cove now too where we also hung out with the Stingrays a majority of the time, we both love them so much.
I have a few other pets all ready...Maverick the Bearded Dragon, Bunker the Short Tailed Opossum, Moony the cat, and Leckie the Albino Hedgehog. (Also have 2 ferrets, a dog, and a hamster that wont be living with us when we move) We are hoping to soon add two new additions, two stingrays who we have all ready decided we will call Daggett and Norbert!
Now for the questions. For a tank, after looking around a lot recently, we decided we are going to order a custom tank. We were thinking a large square, shallow but nice and big for plenty of swimming room. For a stand, just a small rectangular stand to raise it off the ground. I want it lower rather than raised for easier access. I am not sure exactly how much room we will have, and wont know for another month until we are moved and settled, but we are trying to start planning for the most part now, and are hoping to get as big as we can. How big would this tank need to be to house 2 stingrays? (Most likely on the smaller scale, P Reticulata or P Hystrix, POSSIBLY bigger Motoros, would prefer them because of the hardiness, but its really going to depend on our wallets after the tank is built and set up)
We were thinking maybe 4' x 4' for the square. What would be the minimum, and what would be optimal, for each type of ray? Also, how deep would you guys suggest? We are trying to figure out the minimum but comfortable for now, and then if we have the room and money, will get as big as we can.
Also, what the heck kind of lid could I get for that? I am assuming the people making the tank can also make a top for it? A top is DEFINITELY needed because of my psychotic cat. Do I need any sort of special lighting for them, or just something to cover the tank up?
The BIGGEST problem we have right now is that neither of us know anything at all, literally nothing, about filtration. We are totally clueless. I have read that a wet/dry filter is the best, but honestly I only vaguely even know what that is. Do custom tank people also build the filtration equipment, or do I need to buy it separately? Eheim is good right? I could afford to get one of the good Eheims right off the bat, and then after everything is settled could add another. Would that be adequate filtration? I have a python and weekly 50% water changes will not be a problem.
As for the rays themselves, since we aren't getting them right away and this will be several months from now, we are looking at several stores right now, and will be dropping by to visit all of them to check on the health of their fish and to ask them to feed. On one of their websites they said when they import livestock for people, they quarantine them themselves for 2 weeks to make sure they are eating and healthy and acclimated before letting the customer take it, so I think we are leaning towards them right now.
Btw, does anyone know of any breeders in the NJ/NY/PA area? We could probably go even a little bit further if we know the rays are coming from good hands. Looking for healthy retics, hystrix, motoro or scobina for a relatively good price.
So sorry for the wall of text, but I have a lot of questions (Still more, haha) and I just want to make sure we are well and prepared and know what we need before we start. Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions you guys could give us!
My name is Meghan, this is actually my first post here on these forums (Which I am SO glad I found btw) I guess a little background first...I am moving in a little over a month, which is why I am considering another tank, I now have the room for it. I first fell in love with Stingrays when my boyfriend and I went to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden for our anniversary. We did a shark dive program, and included with it, was the stingray meeting. We got to feed and touch the stingrays and their pups, and they were indeed like little puppies! We recently just got back from Seaworld and Discovery Cove now too where we also hung out with the Stingrays a majority of the time, we both love them so much.
I have a few other pets all ready...Maverick the Bearded Dragon, Bunker the Short Tailed Opossum, Moony the cat, and Leckie the Albino Hedgehog. (Also have 2 ferrets, a dog, and a hamster that wont be living with us when we move) We are hoping to soon add two new additions, two stingrays who we have all ready decided we will call Daggett and Norbert!
Now for the questions. For a tank, after looking around a lot recently, we decided we are going to order a custom tank. We were thinking a large square, shallow but nice and big for plenty of swimming room. For a stand, just a small rectangular stand to raise it off the ground. I want it lower rather than raised for easier access. I am not sure exactly how much room we will have, and wont know for another month until we are moved and settled, but we are trying to start planning for the most part now, and are hoping to get as big as we can. How big would this tank need to be to house 2 stingrays? (Most likely on the smaller scale, P Reticulata or P Hystrix, POSSIBLY bigger Motoros, would prefer them because of the hardiness, but its really going to depend on our wallets after the tank is built and set up)
We were thinking maybe 4' x 4' for the square. What would be the minimum, and what would be optimal, for each type of ray? Also, how deep would you guys suggest? We are trying to figure out the minimum but comfortable for now, and then if we have the room and money, will get as big as we can.
Also, what the heck kind of lid could I get for that? I am assuming the people making the tank can also make a top for it? A top is DEFINITELY needed because of my psychotic cat. Do I need any sort of special lighting for them, or just something to cover the tank up?
The BIGGEST problem we have right now is that neither of us know anything at all, literally nothing, about filtration. We are totally clueless. I have read that a wet/dry filter is the best, but honestly I only vaguely even know what that is. Do custom tank people also build the filtration equipment, or do I need to buy it separately? Eheim is good right? I could afford to get one of the good Eheims right off the bat, and then after everything is settled could add another. Would that be adequate filtration? I have a python and weekly 50% water changes will not be a problem.
As for the rays themselves, since we aren't getting them right away and this will be several months from now, we are looking at several stores right now, and will be dropping by to visit all of them to check on the health of their fish and to ask them to feed. On one of their websites they said when they import livestock for people, they quarantine them themselves for 2 weeks to make sure they are eating and healthy and acclimated before letting the customer take it, so I think we are leaning towards them right now.
Btw, does anyone know of any breeders in the NJ/NY/PA area? We could probably go even a little bit further if we know the rays are coming from good hands. Looking for healthy retics, hystrix, motoro or scobina for a relatively good price.
So sorry for the wall of text, but I have a lot of questions (Still more, haha) and I just want to make sure we are well and prepared and know what we need before we start. Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions you guys could give us!
