First Ray - Need to Fatten up FAST! Please help.
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btw this thread needs pix....Wow! Thanks for the great response and welcome. Pix are here for you guys!
I noticed when I got her that she has a small patch of white on her disc, kind of like a scar. I hope that's all it is and not some kind of fungus or loust.
Also, can stingrays choke? If I give her a piece of earthworm that is too big could it hurt her? Watching her eat a piece of one today was the most thrilling thing ever!! I felt like such a geek
I never thought I'd like watching a fish eat a worm so much hahaha
I noticed when I got her that she has a small patch of white on her disc, kind of like a scar. I hope that's all it is and not some kind of fungus or loust.
Also, can stingrays choke? If I give her a piece of earthworm that is too big could it hurt her? Watching her eat a piece of one today was the most thrilling thing ever!! I felt like such a geek
I never thought I'd like watching a fish eat a worm so much hahaha
That small white patch may become a problem. Keep an eye on it.. It could of happened from a number of things, most common is heater burn.. Use Aquarium Salt and high temps, lots of good nutrition and water quality.. Rays are very good at healing themselves, but the conditions have to be right.. Stay away from Pimafix and stuff until you absolutely have to.. Never use Malachite green.. Its very juvenile and probably stressed, so no meds if you can help it.. Lights out and lots of food.. no stresses, keep an eye on tankmates, if any.
You can definitely tell it needs some weight.. if you can see the veins in the disc, it's emaciated..
They won't choke, they are smart..
Feed it until it won't eat anymore.. "J-lo Booty style".. Do this 3x-4x a day until you start seeing it put on weight and it's disc will fill in with color and no veins.. They can't overeat, but you can overfeed the tank and cause ammonia spikes, so keep an eye on that..
You can definitely tell it needs some weight.. if you can see the veins in the disc, it's emaciated..
They won't choke, they are smart..
Feed it until it won't eat anymore.. "J-lo Booty style".. Do this 3x-4x a day until you start seeing it put on weight and it's disc will fill in with color and no veins.. They can't overeat, but you can overfeed the tank and cause ammonia spikes, so keep an eye on that..
If blackworms are unavailable try chopped trout worms (smaller earthworms used for bait) my two retics were eating those as soon as they were in my tank. Blackworms were only given for variety on occasion. They fattened up on the troutworms very nicely and are still doing quite well, although growing very slowly (at least compared to motoros). I have found if they eat well, and water conditions remain optimal, then rays have a really amazing ability to heal, so don't worry too much about that. Oh, and just a tip, mine only started eating foods other than chopped troutworms (and the occasional blackworm feast) within the last month, and I got mine in May. So don't worry if they don't eat shrimp or clam right away. Good luck!
