Yes with rays its different especially when they are pups, they'll need to eat as much as you can feed them. Like i mentioned before in the thread i feed my pup 4-5 times per day. :CaymanMoon: your pups are real skinny and you got to feed them as much as possible to fatten these pups up.
Feeding?
- Thread starter CaymanMoon
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Yes with rays its different especially when they are pups, they'll need to eat as much as you can feed them. Like i mentioned before in the thread i feed my pup 4-5 times per day. :CaymanMoon: your pups are real skinny and you got to feed them as much as possible to fatten these pups up.
As one lover of Cayman's rays to what I assume is another, my advice right now would be to return the rays on the grounds that they are not what you were told they are. That's the reason I'd use with the store.
The other reasons are that
1) you're taking a big risk collecting rays that have just come in, especially Retics
2) your tank is too small
3) your filters aren't ready (what type of filters BTW?)
4) for as much as the store owner has told you (none of which is right, up to and including water changes (see below)), you'll learn a lot more here from people who aren't in the business of selling you anything
Seriously. I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm trying to avoid what I suspect is a pretty high chance of heartbreak. You really need those rays to eat but they're not likely to when the water conditions are poor - and if they do the water conditions get worse again because rays put out so much waste.
Anyway, do with the above as you will. On to trying to keep them alive:
Do you have a nitrIte test kit? Nitrite is just as likely as ammonia to kill rays (or any fish) in a cycling tank and you need to be on top of that too. To combat nitrite poisoning you can add a teaspoon (yes teaspoon, that's not a typo, for that size tank) of salt - any salt, iodized table salt is fine, kosher salt, aquarium salt. If you change 50% of the water, you put back the salt you removed so re-add a 1/2tsp. Important: dissolve the salt before adding it to the tank and don't add it on top of the rays, add it to the filter or slowly add away from the rays.
And on to water changes.
While the tank is cycling, you do whatever water changes you need to keep ammonia and nitrite at bay - if that's 90% 2x a day, that's what you do. Anyone that says "no, don't" doesn't have a clue what they're talking about and you can safely ignore them.
Once the tank is cycled, since it's so small, I'd say at least 50% 2x a week. If they survive and make it to the 180, at least 50% once a week.
The other reasons are that
1) you're taking a big risk collecting rays that have just come in, especially Retics
2) your tank is too small
3) your filters aren't ready (what type of filters BTW?)
4) for as much as the store owner has told you (none of which is right, up to and including water changes (see below)), you'll learn a lot more here from people who aren't in the business of selling you anything
Seriously. I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm trying to avoid what I suspect is a pretty high chance of heartbreak. You really need those rays to eat but they're not likely to when the water conditions are poor - and if they do the water conditions get worse again because rays put out so much waste.
Anyway, do with the above as you will. On to trying to keep them alive:
Do you have a nitrIte test kit? Nitrite is just as likely as ammonia to kill rays (or any fish) in a cycling tank and you need to be on top of that too. To combat nitrite poisoning you can add a teaspoon (yes teaspoon, that's not a typo, for that size tank) of salt - any salt, iodized table salt is fine, kosher salt, aquarium salt. If you change 50% of the water, you put back the salt you removed so re-add a 1/2tsp. Important: dissolve the salt before adding it to the tank and don't add it on top of the rays, add it to the filter or slowly add away from the rays.
And on to water changes.
While the tank is cycling, you do whatever water changes you need to keep ammonia and nitrite at bay - if that's 90% 2x a day, that's what you do. Anyone that says "no, don't" doesn't have a clue what they're talking about and you can safely ignore them.
Once the tank is cycled, since it's so small, I'd say at least 50% 2x a week. If they survive and make it to the 180, at least 50% once a week.
They look like retics they don't look hystrix to me by the color of the edge of the disk in one of the pictures..op this is my hystrix pictured beneath if you payed hystrix price on retics I suggest you go back to the store and have a conversation with the manager/owner View attachment 882179
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I don't have a nitrate test kit, but I will buy one. My tank has been running for a little over 3 months, two of those with fish in them. Is that not long enough for rays?
Should I add some salt anyway? Will it hurt if my nitrite levels are good?
Not sure what the filter is called, my hubby would know, I'll ask him tomorrow. It's not one with the extra tank underneath, although the 180 does.
I don't have any good pics and right now they are buried again, but I will catch them tomorrow.
I will say though, about 2 hours after the water change, both rays became much more active, and both ate frozen mysis. I have only had them 3 days, I hope I can reverse any damage done by the breeder.
I am going to check the levels again in the morning and buy a nitrite kit as well. I will do another large water change then if it needs it.
I appreciate all the help, you are all probably shaking your heads at my stupidity lol. I just love rays, never even knew there were freshwater rays until I saw them in the fish store, and knew at that moment that I had to have them.
I have amazing pictures and memories of holding 2 foot rays in the Cayman islands, to be able to capture those memories and be reminded of their beauty Everytime I look in my take is amazing. I just hope I can keep them alive.
Oh, I paid $129 a piece, that was a 15% discount. Not sure what a good price is. The original ones we wanted were 209 and 159. I really don't care what species they are, except if it changes the way to care for them.
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Should I add some salt anyway? Will it hurt if my nitrite levels are good?
Not sure what the filter is called, my hubby would know, I'll ask him tomorrow. It's not one with the extra tank underneath, although the 180 does.
I don't have any good pics and right now they are buried again, but I will catch them tomorrow.
I will say though, about 2 hours after the water change, both rays became much more active, and both ate frozen mysis. I have only had them 3 days, I hope I can reverse any damage done by the breeder.
I am going to check the levels again in the morning and buy a nitrite kit as well. I will do another large water change then if it needs it.
I appreciate all the help, you are all probably shaking your heads at my stupidity lol. I just love rays, never even knew there were freshwater rays until I saw them in the fish store, and knew at that moment that I had to have them.
I have amazing pictures and memories of holding 2 foot rays in the Cayman islands, to be able to capture those memories and be reminded of their beauty Everytime I look in my take is amazing. I just hope I can keep them alive.
Oh, I paid $129 a piece, that was a 15% discount. Not sure what a good price is. The original ones we wanted were 209 and 159. I really don't care what species they are, except if it changes the way to care for them.
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Here's a pic of Moon... Cayman is belly to the glass right now and I can get a good pic, I'll catch him later.
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Check your store for API Freshwater Master Test Kit looks like a square plastic box this will be much more accurate then the strips and you will be able to test for PH,ammonia,nitrite, and nitrate. Read those Sticky Threads on this site you'll be surprised on how much good info they have.
Yes I have been reading, lots of awesome info. I bought an API kit today, but just ammonia, they didn't have an all in one, that what I wanted. Separate was crazy expensive. I was at a chain pet store though. Need to make a visit to the fish store I bought my rays from anyways so will make a list and stock up on all the essentials.
Just checked ammonia again, its down to 0.25. Hopefully by the morning it's normal. Just seeing them so much more active and eating is making me feel better, so maybe I have a shot at helping them live!
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Just checked ammonia again, its down to 0.25. Hopefully by the morning it's normal. Just seeing them so much more active and eating is making me feel better, so maybe I have a shot at helping them live!
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Yea .25 is much better but like you said hopefully is gets to 0 and stays at 0 are the rays the only ones in the tank?
The salt won't hurt. And to be clear I'm talking about nitr-I-te not nitr-A-te.
The issue with cycling with small fish is they don't eat and produce anything like as much waste as rays so the filter isn't immediately able to cope with the huge jump in waste.
The Cayman rays are more like 4-5 feet, except the males
They're so tame because they have years of experience interacting with people. Your rays can become that tame in time (some of mine are) but first thing's first..
FWIW there's not likely to be a breeder involved, your rays are almost certainly wild.
The issue with cycling with small fish is they don't eat and produce anything like as much waste as rays so the filter isn't immediately able to cope with the huge jump in waste.
The Cayman rays are more like 4-5 feet, except the males
They're so tame because they have years of experience interacting with people. Your rays can become that tame in time (some of mine are) but first thing's first..FWIW there's not likely to be a breeder involved, your rays are almost certainly wild.
