Feeding?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Wow this sounds like a nightmare! You should always do independent research before you buy any pet. How bigs your tank? What kind of sand? What temp are you keeping them at? Wild caught reticulated stingrays are one of the hardest species to get to eat and survive .... I suggest you start reading all the stickies and care info you can find. Keep us updated and we will try to help. Blackworms may be your best bet. Or chopped red wigglers.

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Moving tanks for rays is a stressful ordeal, and can cause loss of appetite, but it also may be that your tank parameters doesn't match those of the LFS so they are still readjusting. Most rays cannot resist nightcrawlers that are cut in half. I soak mine in garlic guard to make them even more unresistable and to fight against parasites. I just got 2 new retics that weren't eating and as soon as I did this they go crazy. I was told mine would eat smelt but they dont touch the stuff. If you can get your hands on blackworms, or throw in live ghost shrimp that is also a great option although very expensive (shouldn't matter). You shouldn't be able to see their ribs in the back sign of malnourishment, same with their hip bones or loss of colour. Feed as often and as much as they will accept and they will love you for it. Very greedy eaters with high metabolism but small stomachs. Feeding by hand may encourage them to eat (my first ray wouldnt eat without me feeding by hand), but don't be fooled that the stinger doesn't hurt and doesn't release a venom. A Hystrix without venom is new information to me if thats true.
 
You guys are awesome. Hubby is picking up worms today. There us a couple of little community fish in the tank with them, and even if I feed them first, they still keep eating the ghost shrimp, only leaving one or two for the rays.

I keep offering the frozen shrimp, but no luck yet.

They are currently in a 90+ corner tank while we get our 180 set up. Probably be about 3 months before it is good to go. I don't remember the type of sand, but it is very fine and smooth. They do have very active periods where they glide up and down the tank walls, but they spend most time burying in the sand.

I spent so many hours talking to the guy at the fish store, and he was so excited about his job, enthusiastic, and fed me so much info, I just knew he was telling me right info. Then i found this forum and realized he wasn't as knowledgeable as I thought lol.

I wish I had been able to grab the original two they had. They were great, trained to hand feed, and they had been there for a few months, so I knew they were healthy.

I just had these ordered last Monday, they arrived Wednesday and I picked them up Thursday.

My hubby and I go swimming with the rays in the Caribbean every year, so rays have a special place in our hearts. We definitely rushed into this purchase, but hopefully we can get them healthy and all you guys help is much appreciated.

I'll let you guys know how the worm feeding goes!

By the way, I know we can get earthworms, are blackworms and wigglers sold at fishing places too, or can I get them frozen from LFS? What about chain pet stores, do they carry them?

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Hand feeding can be fun but puts allot of stress on new fish and especially with how they are already not eating super well and have gone through allot you need to work on just feeding them and taking care of them, rays in a new environment can take a couple months to really get settled sometimes. Especially if they are hiding allot they are not ready yet. Give them some time and then you can try working with them on hand feeding. 78-80° is a great temp range for them to be in.


CaymanMoon said:
I would LOVE to hand feed, but I am scared lol.

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just keep feeding them and make sure to take out the food they dont eat. theyll eat eventually my peacock bass went a month without eating til he finally gave in and ate pellets and now he loves them and is healthier than ever..Try to feed them like 3 times of day if they arent eating just allways remove the extra food and try feeding them in the dark that seemed to make my baby peacock bass more willing to eat pellets when i was pellet training them.
 
Yes, I agree. I have been on the hunt for blackworms, no luck. I found frozen and dried bloodworms, can I use them? Am also having hubby pick up nightcrawlers. I want to have a variety to see what they will eat. How about mealworms or waxworms?

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I will try in the dark, good idea, thanks! I do keep offering, the little fish usually gobble up any leftover food, so I have been lucky with that part.

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I've seen you got a lot of advice here but just wanted to give you an idea of what I'm doing with my recently added pup. I feed my pup black worms about 4-5 times per day and offer as much as I can until she's not interested also if your other fish are eating there food try purchasing a sheet of egg crate which is used to cover lights if your not sure what I'm talking about ill post a picture. I use it in my tank during feeding time because my other fish do the same thing they eat all the food. Good Luck
 
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