First Stingray

[KansasFishGuy]

Well I am getting the 180 gallon tank back in working order, as I had plans to move, but that fell through do not know what I was thinking , I just picked up about 100 lbs of gravel not as fine as sand but pretty small pebbles. Got it at work with a 30% discount. Anyways I am going to be picking up a Hystrix Stingray at pet store I work at in the coming weeks. It has been there 4 months. I have been power feeding him for the last 2 months. The ray is about 8" in diameter right now. The only question is I have a 5" ornate bichir in the 180 gallon tank right now along with some very non agressive geos, blood parrot and gold severum. I will be adding 4 of the recently acquired Indo Datnoids I just picked up a couple weeks back. Will there be any problems with any of the fish in the 180 with the sting ray? All current fish are above 5" and the dats are in a grow out tank.

All info will be greatly appreciated

 

[sixpack_ey]

I'm pretty sure I just saw a thread where a birchir took a chunk out of a ray. I don't know much about birchirs, maybe someone else will chime in, but from what I remember reading its not a good idea.

 

[Miles]

I am going to be picking up a Hystrix Stingray at pet store I work at in the coming weeks. It has been there 4 months. I have been power feeding him for the last 2 months. The ray is about 8" in diameter right now. The only question is I have a 5" ornate bichir in the 180 gallon tank right now along with some very non agressive geos, blood parrot and gold severum. I will be adding 4 of the recently acquired Indo Datnoids I just picked up a couple weeks back. Will there be any problems with any of the fish in the 180 with the sting ray? All current fish are above 5" and the dats are in a grow out tank.

All info will be greatly appreciated

Well.. first off the Hystrix Ray at your store is likely a peruvian Motoro variant, not a true hystrix. Unless it was captive bred or imported from europe, it is the false histrix from Peru.. if it's a true hystrix, it will demand a higher price tag at this time.. this is why importer/exporters are not paying attention to the fact that the Histrix coming from Peru is not a true histrix. It will grow larger than a true P. Hystrix (banned, from Brazil).. No one knows for sure, but max size i'm guessing around 18-22"..

Bichirs are questionable with raykeepers.. some people have it work for them, others get chunks taken out.. Might not be worth the risk, especially if you have the ability to seperate.

Your other tankmates should be fine, but keep in mind that your bio-load will be pressed even in the 180g.. The BP and Severum will get large, as will the datnoids, and create large amounts of waste.. not to mention the Stingray, which will amass a bioload greater than all of them..

Plan on doing large frequent water changes (40-50%2xweek), and make sure you have excellent filtration with a high turnover(canisters, wet-dry, sump..) .. or think about cutting down your stocking list..

 

[csx4236]

I have my rays and birchirs together and never had a problem, it works better if the ray is larger then the birchir.