First off hello everyone, I am technically new here but I have been lurking on your site for years now. Loads of great information here so I have never had to actually make an account to post from. But today I come with a very specific request and would love some first hand experience/advise.
I have always been interested in freshwater rays and I think I am ready to give them a try. So I am going to construct a custom tank to dual as a table for my living room. I know this sounds hoakey but I have the fish first in mind so thus my questions:
The dimensions of this tank are set to be 3.5'x3.5'x2 feet tall. It will have an overflow sump built into one side complete with a wet dry trickle chamber, refugium chamber and another chamber for whatever. The display will be minimally decorated with just a sand bottom and maybe one centered peice of driftwood for ph buffer and shelter. Gallonage would be approximately 200 gallons. Would this tank be appropriate for a pair of the smaller ray species?
Technically speaking they will have a 9 square foot footprint. However I have not previously kept rays and I am unaware if length is preferred to them. I am not in the business of shoving big fish in small boxes and the build is only a blue print for now so I have invested nothing but thought and ink into it. So if this is an inappropriate set up I will scratch it and move on.
But if it is appropriate another question is this: I know that reticulatas and hystrix are difficult first rays but they seem to stay smaller than the easier motoros. I love the spots on the motoros and that theyre captive breed, but I just cant imagine something with a 20 inch disc would be happy in that space. I do not have room for another massive tank for adult motoros; rephrase my girlfriend claims I do not have room for another massive tank. I have a lot of experience in fish, and keep difficult species and setups like discus and nano reefs. So are the hystrix and reticulatas really a poor choice of ray to start with if you have experience with other difficult species?
Sorry for the long read but to spark note it for those of you who will skim.
Question 1: Will a smaller species ray be happy as an adult in a 3.5x3.5x2 foot tank (9 square footprint) and approximately 200 gallons.
Question 2: How important is tank length for a ray?
Question 3: If this is appropriate for any species of ray is it unwise to start with a reticulatas or hystrix even if you have experience in other difficult fish care. Or is it better to have a motoro even if it might be a snug fit for an adult.
Thank you for your time to read this and hopefully better inform my stingray dreams.
I have always been interested in freshwater rays and I think I am ready to give them a try. So I am going to construct a custom tank to dual as a table for my living room. I know this sounds hoakey but I have the fish first in mind so thus my questions:
The dimensions of this tank are set to be 3.5'x3.5'x2 feet tall. It will have an overflow sump built into one side complete with a wet dry trickle chamber, refugium chamber and another chamber for whatever. The display will be minimally decorated with just a sand bottom and maybe one centered peice of driftwood for ph buffer and shelter. Gallonage would be approximately 200 gallons. Would this tank be appropriate for a pair of the smaller ray species?
Technically speaking they will have a 9 square foot footprint. However I have not previously kept rays and I am unaware if length is preferred to them. I am not in the business of shoving big fish in small boxes and the build is only a blue print for now so I have invested nothing but thought and ink into it. So if this is an inappropriate set up I will scratch it and move on.
But if it is appropriate another question is this: I know that reticulatas and hystrix are difficult first rays but they seem to stay smaller than the easier motoros. I love the spots on the motoros and that theyre captive breed, but I just cant imagine something with a 20 inch disc would be happy in that space. I do not have room for another massive tank for adult motoros; rephrase my girlfriend claims I do not have room for another massive tank. I have a lot of experience in fish, and keep difficult species and setups like discus and nano reefs. So are the hystrix and reticulatas really a poor choice of ray to start with if you have experience with other difficult species?
Sorry for the long read but to spark note it for those of you who will skim.
Question 1: Will a smaller species ray be happy as an adult in a 3.5x3.5x2 foot tank (9 square footprint) and approximately 200 gallons.
Question 2: How important is tank length for a ray?
Question 3: If this is appropriate for any species of ray is it unwise to start with a reticulatas or hystrix even if you have experience in other difficult fish care. Or is it better to have a motoro even if it might be a snug fit for an adult.
Thank you for your time to read this and hopefully better inform my stingray dreams.
