Couple Qs on freshwater rays by a noob to rays

[Eric L]

I am setting up 2 180 gallon aquariums right now, the dimensions of them are 72" by 24" by 24". I am looking to keep a ray in one of them with maybe a cichlid that is chill like a convict and a couple SDs. My questions are:

Full size in general in the home aquariums of Motoros, Teacups and Histrix rays?

How many gallons should their bioload take up aproximatly with regular gravel vacuming and 50% water changes weekly?

Which is the easiest and which is the hardest to take care of?

Are there anyother smaller rays that are easy to take care of out there?

What stingrays work in a tank of these dimentions if the do?

Recomended place to get one of these little guys?


Thanks alot, I looked at that huge article on here about freshwater rays and I would have to say that it was alllot of history and little technicale information.

Thanks for your help

Eric

 

[rvrrays]

I would go with histrix. They max out at 14" and could stay in a 180 for life.

My female motoro is 18" and growing.

Colin

 

[fugidabowtit]

i have seen 18" histrix and according to the stingray aqualog they get just as big as motoros. and histrix tend to be more sensitive than motoros in my experience.

 

[Zoodiver]

I would say motoros are a good starter ray, but they do get rather large....too large for a 180. They seem to be able to handle more 'mistakes' than other species, though.

 

[Miles]

I am setting up 2 180 gallon aquariums right now, the dimensions of them are 72" by 24" by 24". I am looking to keep a ray in one of them with maybe a cichlid that is chill like a convict and a couple SDs. My questions are:

Convict is far from a 'Chill' cichlid, they will stress your rays out.. Try more placid cichlids like Severums, Angelfish, Discus, Geos... Larger, peaceful cichlids..

Full size in general in the home aquariums of Motoros, Teacups and Histrix rays?

'Teacup' is a term for a small ray under 6".. Usually they label it teacup because the people who import them are just in it to make money and they have no exact idea of the species. They just say 'Give me the smallest, cheapest one'.. Then you have a Teacup!

Motoros are usually hardy, but get large around 24"+.. However, I have seen people keep and even spawn them in 180g tanks.

Histrix rays stay slightly smaller, but there has been isolated cases when they get large as well. There are some Motoro variants that are suppose to not reach as large of a maimum size (P. 'Yepezi') but I have yet to hear any definitive information on whether this is true or not. The farmers and collectors I have talked to have never seen a 'large' one though.

How many gallons should their bioload take up aproximatly with regular gravel vacuming and 50% water changes weekly?

Depending on how big they are, and how much you feed them is really the x-factor in Bioload. Rather then doing a large water change weekly, you might think about doing like %30-40 every couple day. If you wait too long in between changes, acids could build up and drop your pH, and a major water change could cause a suddon shift in water parameters.. I wouldn't worry to much about temp, but pH swings could be a problem. The less populated the tank, the less bio-load you will have to deal with. Make sure you have some very heavy filtration as well, try to 'over-do' it.. You don't want any ammonia in the tank due to it not breaking down fast enough, this can stress out a ray quick.

Which is the easiest and which is the hardest to take care of?

I have noticed this is reflective of price sometimes.. Motoros are usually most available and hardiest, while rarer rays such as Tigers and Leopoldis tend to be more sensative. Alot of people have had mixed results with 'Histrix' and some of the other 'brown' stingrays, but I have seen very little difference when importing them as in comparison to the Motoro.

Are there anyother smaller rays that are easy to take care of out there?

Histrix and Reticulatas are the smallest, but they seem to be fairly hard to come buy..

What stingrays work in a tank of these dimentions if the do?

See above.. if you had a 3' deep tank you would have alot more options.

Recomended place to get one of these little guys?

There are alot of on-line vendors here.. I noticed your in WA, and so am I.. Cheap shipping.. PM me if your interested, I have a couple 'Yepezi' rays I need to sell here soon.

Thanks alot, I looked at that huge article on here about freshwater rays and I would have to say that it was alllot of history and little technicale information.

Don't ya love that? Posting is the best way to get more definitive answers

 

[Eric L]

Thanks for the info, I need a couple more posts before I can pm you about a ray so I am just going to get them here.

 

[Eric L]

post #3, if any of you have more info you my research is far from done

 

[Eric L]

#4

 

[Eric L]

#5, sorry for the post count upping, I just want to be able to pm bad

 

[Eric L]

okay, I still cant pm, that sucks, o well, I will just ask you the questions here.

You said you that you have not heard any thing about a smaller motoro veriants but you are selling some?

How big aprox will they get?

How much including shipping to 98177 (seattle) area code.