Considering Getting My First Ray

[Angelphish]

One thing about motoros is they grow fairly large. Some say 38”+. Once they get about 1’ they start to get chewy. As in they will chew up some of your other fish. I have a friend with a 22” female and she has eaten a 14” pleco, numerous polypterus and other fish that would typically not get eaten. So a fair amount of your stock would not work out long term.it will tak a bit of time to get this big though. My first marble motoro was roughly 9-10” in year one.

There are a few good stickies to check out right here in this section to get you started. IF you choose to continue with the ray idea.

Look forward to seeing your updates and possibly a build thread

I did read about their size, but I didn't know they would just run through my stock like that... Is there a smaller species of ray that's as hardy as motoros?

You got a picture of the acrylic sheet? How thick is it?

The acrylic is outside, so I'll get pics tomorrow.

Unless I happen to stumble upon more cheap acrylic, it's definitely going to be a frankentank, as I don't have anywhere near the budget to build it entirely out of acrylic.

The first sheet I got for free. I helped my dad clear out a house of the leftovers from an eviction, and there was a 4' x 6 'x 1 3/8" sheet of acrylic leaning on the wall of the garage. It came from a bank though, so there are a couple holes in it, so only about 3'x5' of it is usable.

The other two sheets popped up on cl for $100 for both just a few weeks later. Needless to say I jumped on that too. The first is an 8'x3'x7/8", and the second is a white 8'x3'x1/2". I'm planning on trying to do an acrylic/plywood hybrid tank. The clear 8x3 panel would be the front, the white one would be the back, and the 6x4 would be trimmed down and would probably be the left side. The bottom and right side would be plywood, and the back would also be reinforced with plywood, since it would only be 1/2" acrylic.

 

[Angelphish]

I did read about their size, but I didn't know they would just run through my stock like that... Is there a smaller species of ray that's as hardy as motoros?


The acrylic is outside, so I'll get pics tomorrow.

Unless I happen to stumble upon more cheap acrylic, it's definitely going to be a frankentank, as I don't have anywhere near the budget to build it entirely out of acrylic.

The first sheet I got for free. I helped my dad clear out a house of the leftovers from an eviction, and there was a 4' x 6 'x 1 3/8" sheet of acrylic leaning on the wall of the garage. It came from a bank though, so there are a couple holes in it, so only about 3'x5' of it is usable.

The other two sheets popped up on cl for $100 for both just a few weeks later. Needless to say I jumped on that too. The first is an 8'x3'x7/8", and the second is a white 8'x3'x1/2". I'm planning on trying to do an acrylic/plywood hybrid tank. The clear 8x3 panel would be the front, the white one would be the back, and the 6x4 would be trimmed down and would probably be the left side. The bottom and right side would be plywood, and the back would also be reinforced with plywood, since it would only be 1/2" acrylic.

By tomorrow I meant the tomorrow after tomorrow...

Sorry for the bad pics, but they aren't really in a position to be moved at the moment. The second picture was to give an idea of the thickness, but it didn't turn out very well.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

I used to have a reticulated Ray. They are not supposed to be an easy species to keep. However they do stay small, expect around 14 inches. Mine was around 4years old. A female with a 12inch disc.
I know nothing about any legal restrictions. Coming from the UK we have very few restrictions. The only problems I can see with your current stock is it being out competed for food, especially when first introduced.
Whatever species of Ray you end up with, I would let it have the tank to itself first and get it used to feeding from your hand. Once you have achieved this and the Ray is feeding well then I would consider adding your other stock.

 

[Angelphish]

I used to have a reticulated Ray. They are not supposed to be an easy species to keep. However they do stay small, expect around 14 inches. Mine was around 4years old. A female with a 12inch disc.
I know nothing about any legal restrictions. Coming from the UK we have very few restrictions. The only problems I can see with your current stock is it being out competed for food, especially when first introduced.
Whatever species of Ray you end up with, I would let it have the tank to itself first and get it used to feeding from your hand. Once you have achieved this and the Ray is feeding well then I would consider adding your other stock.

I don't know if that will be possible due to how long it takes to get a permit, but I'll definitely try. I wouldn't mind making special arrangements/hand feeding the ray.

 

[Dloks]

By tomorrow I meant the tomorrow after tomorrow...

Sorry for the bad pics, but they aren't really in a position to be moved at the moment. The second picture was to give an idea of the thickness, but it didn't turn out very well.View attachment 1388090View attachment 1388091

Nice! I hope you get it done it’s a nice big piece!

 

[Angelphish]

Nice! I hope you get it done it’s a nice big piece!

Thanks. The realization of how big it really was hit me once I tried to pick it up...

 

[Angelphish]

I used to have a reticulated Ray. They are not supposed to be an easy species to keep. However they do stay small, expect around 14 inches. Mine was around 4years old. A female with a 12inch disc.
I know nothing about any legal restrictions. Coming from the UK we have very few restrictions. The only problems I can see with your current stock is it being out competed for food, especially when first introduced.
Whatever species of Ray you end up with, I would let it have the tank to itself first and get it used to feeding from your hand. Once you have achieved this and the Ray is feeding well then I would consider adding your other stock.

What were your experiences with the ray, and what parameters did you keep your tank at?

 

[Stanzzzz7]

What were your experiences with the ray, and what parameters did you keep your tank at?

To be honest, having it was the worst decision I have made in fishkeeping for years.
I had often wanted a Ray but never considered my tank big enough. Then I saw this Ray. It's owner had been keeping it from a pup in a 5 x 2 x 2. They felt it needed a bigger tank, so I offered to take it.
The Ray was a beautiful fish. I really liked her. She was friendly, active and peaceful towards tank mates.
I found her no harder to keep than any other fish really. I made no special adjustments for her except I upped my water changes from 50% per week to 100%
My only concern was the other fish in the tank would get to the food before she could.
I ended up feeding the other fish at one end of the tank and then dropping her food through a tube right in front of her.
After a while she took the food from my hand and it became less of an issue.
In the end I decided to find her a new home.
My tank was a couple of feet longer than the one she had been previously kept in but I felt it was not enough. She had a disc of about a foot and to me looked trapped in my tank. I felt so sorry for her and she deserved better.
Eventually I found a Ray keeper with a much bigger tank than mine, and an interest in this particular species. Sadly I had to let her go but felt it was the right thing to do.
Beautiful fish to keep though, and if I had a huge tank with a very wide footprint I would want another.
A 12inch disc does not sound that big, but don't underestimate just how large they look when swimming up the front glass and actively cruising up and down the aquarium.
I guess things worked out OK for her in the end but it was foolish of me to think my tank was anywhere near big enough for her.