Help Me Choose My First Ray Plllleeeaaasseee? =]

[skiptomyzoo]

To be honest, I know next to nothing on cichlids. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the majority of cichlids do not require tanks as big as the ones rays require. If that is the case, generally, the tank one ray requires is VERY different than the tank one cichlid requires. Even in your extreme example, I highly doubt a clown loach is going to match the size of a grown motoro. Point being it takes a lot more commitment to upgrade a tank for a ray than to upgrade a tank for a cichlid.

It can depend, your rays tend to be able to kept together, however most cichlids are territorial so sometimes the only option you have is to go huge in order to keep them together...and most people aren't content with just one cichlid, so tank size wise it can equalize.
But the key word is commitment as you mentioned, the levels are the same if you know what you are getting yourself into beforehand, if you are talking more than just financially. Sure it may not be some tank that is wide and long (that's not my definition of what defines committed,) but in the end you both are committed just the same as you have the same goal in mind, trying to provide as best for your fish as possible.

That being said, I do plan on raising rays later on and if your knowledge is as good as jeffers says it is, then hopefully we can talk again then.

 

[Steveo McNello]

Ok I'm done with this thread. I did receive some valuable info before it was invaded by trolls. This thread was about rays, not insulting me about my catfish. I will not have a 40 inch fish in a 72 inch tank. I'm not an idiot. I'm rehoming him around 14-16 inches. I can buy a fish for the pure enjoyment of having one. Just because the footprint will be too small in 6 months doesn't mean I shouldn't have bought the fish to begin with. I'm unsubscribing so comment all you want, I won't see it.

Thanks to everyone who tried to help me, and provided me with some great info. Much appreciated!

 

[scott s]

Gonna loose alot of great future ray keepers with this kind of encouragement. There is all kinds of info. on this site about rays. Problem is new comers dont know how to navigate the site yet and some simply dont have the time to sit and read for hours. If their new, they have no idea haw fast rays grow so when they read in the species profile sticky and see a juvie ray can be housed in a 125 it can be a little confusing. This forum is for questions and answers right? If your tired of responding to newbie questions...dont. Gonna be hard to sell those ray pups if the next generation of ray keeper gets ran off.

 

[waynes world]

I love these forums at times, you get some real tetchy folk who dont look at all aspects of thing in other peoples life, if some body is capable of homeing a large fish WHEN its fully grown but doesnt want to home it in a say 12x6x4 tank and can have it built within half its adult size then why should they have to aslong as it doenst harm the fish.

(before i build my large tank i am rehoming all the fish in a 7x4x3 so then, is this wrong also as they all cant live in there for many years?)

Gonna loose alot of great future ray keepers with this kind of encouragement. There is all kinds of info. on this site about rays. Problem is new comers dont know how to navigate the site yet and some simply dont have the time to sit and read for hours. If their new, they have no idea haw fast rays grow so when they read in the species profile sticky and see a juvie ray can be housed in a 125 it can be a little confusing. This forum is for questions and answers right? If your tired of responding to newbie questions...dont. Gonna be hard to sell those ray pups if the next generation of ray keeper gets ran off.

^^^^^

Hey steveo, stick around mate, i have got some grief about my tank but hey ho, the ones that give grief aint a clue on my situation are are either jelious or down right to pig headed to ask first on my situation.

All i can say is do the best you can mate and think of the fish first. Think ahead.

I have been on a few forums and i have found fish keepers are the worst for giving......grief and not advice first, shame as we all like the hobby and ALL need help at times.

Anyway i think thats me over with also.

wayne

 

[T1KARMANN]

As everyone is putting this thread to bed I think it best to answer the thread starters ? as fast as poss

A 72x18 tank is to small for any type of ray for life that was the 1st ? asked by the thread starter in his 1st post I hope this helps

 

[the stingray guy]

My pond is currently 20x40x2 (stingrays dont need width right? right?) that will maybe house 3 full motoros and thats jamming them

 

[jeffers]

im not even going to reply to these threads anymore

20' is perfect but 20" please read the stickies stingrays need a huge footprint width and length is the most important part. i wouldnt put one ray in that for life. i dont know if your trying to get a reaction out of people or a legit person. but please read and reread the stickies more if you think this tank would be good for 3 full motoros.

 

[T1KARMANN]

Newbies have no reason not to read the stickys

If they can find the way to the ray section the stickys are at the very top of the board and can't be missed

If I was a newbie I would find time to do as much reading as poss that's what we used to do before the net buy a book read it then read it again things are the same but now we have the added bonus of being able to ask ?s after we have done as much reading as poss

If someone doesn't have a few hours to read then they don't have enough time for rays anyway

 

[Gshock]

Newbies have no reason not to read the stickys

If they can find the way to the ray section the stickys are at the very top of the board and can't be missed

If I was a newbie I would find time to do as much reading as poss that's what we used to do before the net buy a book read it then read it again things are the same but now we have the added bonus of being able to ask ?s after we have done as much reading as poss

If someone doesn't have a few hours to read then they don't have enough time for rays anyway

true that.