Yea I brought up Steve Irwin as a reference of someone very experienced that was injured (and unfortunately killed) by something that should never have happened. His cameraman boxed the ray in, the ray couldnt back up so it felt cornered. My reference was that no matter what you still have to remember you are dealing with a wild animal here and accidents do happen when instinct takes over. Could be as simple as applying too much pressure somewhere or rubbing a portion of your glove over the ray's eye, my point was simply that freak accidents do happen, and if you can avoid exposing yourself to something like this it is far less likely to. Chance was pretty low it got Steve Irwin in the heart, just like it could be really low that your tame leo swings at you with its tail and nicks a main artery or vein, but the chance is still there so if you can let it be, let it be. In the case the OP doesn't feel he can, and with his stock I tend to agree that removal may be warranted in this situation, but the more you stick your hands near a ray the more you expose yourself, even if the ray is tame, or even if you know what you are doing just like Steve Irwin.
Cutting rays stingers
- Thread starter jsodwi
- Start date
I have the same fish are you and they have been kept with rays for over 7 years
24" ST
24"+ tig
28" chilli red aro
I have never had any problems
I think you are being to paranoid or you are very unlucky having a very aggressive ray
Can I ask what rays as motoro and pearl are more aggressive than other rays
That said I still think your main problem is feeding
Once every 2 days is not enough yes miss one day per week but not every other day
You can't go on rays in touch pools they are a salt water ray and have a totally different temperament than FW rays
A SW ray like in touch pools probably wouldn't even sting you even if it's shing hadn't been clipped
I saw that rays can be conditioned to have barbs clipped I still say this only apples to salt water rays
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Just wanted to touch a couple of points brought up in various posts:
Rays can be conditioned to have barbs trimmed without restraint. Does it happen over night? No, not at all. It takes a LOT of work and knowledge of ray behavior. It's not something I'd suggest for most home aquarists. It is much safer for you and the animal to pull them out into a shallow container/pool where you have space to work and trim as per the guidelines in the link posted on page 1. If done right, there is very little stress and it doesn't hurt the ray at all.
I saw Steve's name brought up. Steve's death was not related to this at all and was nothing more than a tragic accident. Classic wrong place, wrong time - I won't get into details. You won't die from trimming a FW ray barb. Consider the size of the barb in Steve's case. Many marine rays have barbs that are several inches across, well over an inch thick and can be 20 inches long or more. They make Potamotrygon barbs look like little splinters.
Just an example, this is a mount from a spotted eagle ray. It has been painted blue for decoration reasons. Note the size of the wall outlet to the right.
I know nothing about SW rays and have never claimed to but are the barbs ribbed the full length like FW rays
All I know it's clipping the tip off a FW ray won't save you
The full barb is ribbed on a FW ray which is why it's near impossible to get it free from a net
I can't see how clipping a FW barb would help you would need to remove the whole thing
I have taken large barbs out of my tank and they still make my fingers tingle
The problem is even they slightest amount of barb the goes into the skin will rip a big chunk of skin off as it's pulled out
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This is what I mean no matter how far you clip a FW barb it will always be sharp
The barb it sharp the length of the barb not just the tip if I pull this barb one way it feels smooth but pull the other way it will rip you to bits
I'm sure many of you know what I'm talking about so that's why I'm thinking SW rays might be different
This is the main reason it's so hard to get air line off the sting on wild caught rays as you are pulling against the sting
In the picture you can see it hanging it wouldn't hang if I turned the barb the other way up
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The barb it sharp the length of the barb not just the tip if I pull this barb one way it feels smooth but pull the other way it will rip you to bits
I'm sure many of you know what I'm talking about so that's why I'm thinking SW rays might be different
This is the main reason it's so hard to get air line off the sting on wild caught rays as you are pulling against the sting
In the picture you can see it hanging it wouldn't hang if I turned the barb the other way up
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But by clipping it you're making the end less sharp and you're also reducing the size of the barb to reduce the amount of distance it can sting.
Ok you are making the tip less sharp but the whole barb is sharp not just the tip even a graze on the side of it can do damage
It's infection that causes a problem as the barb goes in clean but does the real damage when pulled out as it rips flesh
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I see what you're saying. If a fish gets hit by it it's still might get infected but by cutting it, you're dulling the sharp point that helps it penetrate. If you cut it down all the way, it can't possibly sting you.
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Airline hose over the barb? Not sure how you'd put it on but I've seen some shipped like that before. Shrug.
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I was thinking about that. But how long will it stay on for? Until they shed barb?
It can get infected and it will cause just as much stress as clipping... I respect TKs opinions but the veterinarian (charney) and the professional shark guy (zoo diver) both said clipping is fine and you can train your rays.
