Getting back into rays.

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T

Tihsho

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 31, 2006
107
0
0
Maryland/Hawaii
Well its been a few years since I kept rays so I figured I'd brush up by asking some questions. I recently bought a pair or reticulated rays at my LFS where I work. I'm actually about to bring them home today but wanted to clarify on substrates. About 2 years ago I had a motoro which was great but ended up giving him to friend who had a much larger home then the kiddie pool I had it in. The only reason I jumpehttp://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=116d on these was that it is a male female pair. The only problem that I am jumping into is the substrate that the retics will be going into. I have flourite onyx in the tank and I know it's a little sharp, but I am considering putting flourite black sand in there so I can keep a few plants with them though I have a strong feeling they will be dug up.

They will be going with a few plecos which I will keep an eye on so the discs don't get sores.

I also use to keep the motoro in deionized water with some tap to balance out, I'm thinking of just using tap. Any problems? It's not city water its well so it's slightly acidic and no organics.

Any tips would be great. And for the sake of those who I know will ask they are to be housed in a 40 breeder. Yes I know they get big and they will move onto a larger floor print 220.

Thanks!
 
If you want some plants that will not get dug up, use some plants from the Anubias genus, specifically Anubias Barteri. These plants will root into rock or driftwood and cannot be dug up by your rays. If you do it that way, then you can use play sand or pool filter sand which is definitely smooth and safe for rays discs.

And like you said....definitely watch the plecos.
 
*Update*

The rays are doing great! I have yet to change the old substrate but they are eating and no wounds from plecos. Though I did notice that one ray landed over one of my albino bushies and creeped the pleco to the point that it shot out from underneath the ray. So far no problems. I did notice that on both of them they lift up the back sections of the disc, not to a curl but as if to vent Is that regular behavior? As for the plants I wasn't looking for anubias. The tank was my smaller discus tank that is fully planted so I want to try moving some of the current plants in the new layout.
 
*Update*

Well it has been 4 days now with no problems. No bites from any pleco, no heater burn, and strangely enough no cuts or abrasions from the substrate. I am about to actually change the substrate out tomorrow for some black sand and use some of the old substrate in some pots for the plants I'm trying to keep in there.

I actually am trying to figure out some tank mates for them. Any recommendations? Be aware they are in a grow out tank all alone at this point so no problems if any recommendations grow big, as I said before I have a large floor print 220 that the grown fish will move into. But to help with ideas I was looking for something different i.e. larger catfish or something more surface dwelling. I almost bought a jurense till the store owner tried to sell it to me as a tigrinus... So let the recommendations flow!
 
I've always liked discus with rays. I've never actually kept them together, but they enjoy the same water conditions and they occupy the upper half of the tank. They are peaceful fish who won't bother the rays.
 
I've already got a discus tank... And one of my spares is with the rays right now anyways to get the floating blackworms before the two fluvals do.
 
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