Hand feeding rays

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T1KARMANN;3772281; said:
its more hassle than its worth

1. the rays become a pain at water changes thinking you have food when your hands are in the tank
2. chance of getting stung
3. rays that come to the top looking for food may climb out the tank if you leave the cover glasses open
4. ray can can poisoned if you have any rubbish on your hands
5. if you want your pets to do tricks for food buy a dog

no reason for such risks
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I stick my hand near the bottom, and I doubt the would sting me. Also my hands are clean, especially if they are going to be in a fish tank. No rubbish on my hands :screwy:
 
My ray is a wuss, always buries herself in the sand when I put my hand in the tank. I think it would be a cool experience and worth the risk though.
 
Arowanana;3773705; said:
My ray is a wuss, always buries herself in the sand when I put my hand in the tank. I think it would be a cool experience and worth the risk though.
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And what would your ray do if it was kept in a bare bottom tank

the next line of defence would come into effect

1st line of defence cover them self with sand
2nd line of defence sting
 
pfft.
2nd line of defense is to move. They haveta feel threatened and that there is no other option before they sting.

I have a ray that feeds from my fingers. She clearly doesn't feel threatened otherwise she'd stay on the tank floor with the other 2 that usually just wait for their food. She knows there's food on the floor and will still swim past it and up the glass to take from me, it's entirely her decision.

Your argument about leaving the lid open is ignoring the fact that most rays climb the glass irrespective of whether or not they hand feed and the argument about contaminated hands seems to be ignoring the fact that the same hands are still going to be touching the food anyway.

I don't see a compelling argument against hand feeding if you and the ray are comfortable with it.
 
and what if someone comes into the room and spooks her

each ray is different

i have seen a motoro stick its tail up and sting like a scorpion every time a net was put into the water
 
I guess it would be similar to the endless debate on smoking. Smokers know smoking kills, but they do it anyway, they accept the risk and the shortening of their lives in exchange for it.

The same case here, there is definitely a risk in hand feeding rays, if people want to risk their health and well being, we have to respect what may seem stupid to us. WE may seem stupid to them not enjoying the interaction with such a wonderful animal and not embracing the risk.

It's all about perspectives and respecting differences.
 
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