if i was going to handle a ray i would just put tubeing over the stinger as this would be the less stress option imo, but u cant leave those on for more than a cpl days as it can cause other problems. but i haft to agree, when i read in ur other thread about force feeding. i felt this would be alot of stress for the ray, figured u got some info on that. plus i have never seen it done. unless the fish is put on something to calm it down i see it thrashing around the whole time. an stress can go a long ways with rays.