Ok i have searched and searched for some information on this but found nothing so i am seeing if anyone here knows anything about it. My Cortez stingray about 6 1/2 inch. is swollen right below its mouth, and it started yesterday and looks worse today. She still eats but i know this is not normal. I have had her for about 5 months and i feed her market shrimp silversides and when she feels like it some scalops, and i feed her the shark/ray formula. My water is good the readings are: SG-1.022, Nitrate-5, Nitrite-0, Amonia-0, and Ph-8.2 any info is helpful thanxs.
Cortez Stingray Swollen Need Help Please!!!
- Thread starter KingQuest
- Start date
Sounds like your little buddy has a Goiter. Goiters don't ever just start all the sudden (rather they take quite a while to develop), but associated swelling can become pronounced as they grow if esophageal tissues become irritated and inflamed caused by difficulty swallowing food.
Goiters are (sadly) a relatively common ailment to captive Elasmobranchs if proper nutrition and vitamin supplements are not provided. A main cause of goiters is an Iodine deficiency. Are you adding regular supplements into your tank - Iodine, Trace Elements, Strontium, etc.?
It's good that she is still able to eat at all, being that once they get to the size where inflammation also occurs... Most will rapidly decrease their intake because it becomes too difficult and uncomfortable for them. And this in turn is bad because it only adds to the problem of malnutrition. You should also change up the diet a bit too and try some squid, clams, etc.
And when you say "the" shark/ray formula.. which one are you referring to?
The only one worth its weight is Mazuri Shark/Ray Gel. I would avoid tabs with these guys as they generally do not take them well without some creative attempts.
Not to mention if this continues to get worse, eating will be harder and harder.
If you do not already have it, order Mazuri Shark/Ray Gel from
http://www.mazuri.com
And start administering immediately. Also start adding iodine to your water. You should be reading between .06-.08 (if you don't have a tester, get one).
Also, can you provide a picture please.
-Emi
Goiters are (sadly) a relatively common ailment to captive Elasmobranchs if proper nutrition and vitamin supplements are not provided. A main cause of goiters is an Iodine deficiency. Are you adding regular supplements into your tank - Iodine, Trace Elements, Strontium, etc.?
It's good that she is still able to eat at all, being that once they get to the size where inflammation also occurs... Most will rapidly decrease their intake because it becomes too difficult and uncomfortable for them. And this in turn is bad because it only adds to the problem of malnutrition. You should also change up the diet a bit too and try some squid, clams, etc.
And when you say "the" shark/ray formula.. which one are you referring to?
The only one worth its weight is Mazuri Shark/Ray Gel. I would avoid tabs with these guys as they generally do not take them well without some creative attempts.
Not to mention if this continues to get worse, eating will be harder and harder.
If you do not already have it, order Mazuri Shark/Ray Gel from
http://www.mazuri.com
And start administering immediately. Also start adding iodine to your water. You should be reading between .06-.08 (if you don't have a tester, get one).
Also, can you provide a picture please.
-Emi