How difficult are rays to keep?

[toehead11183]

i was intimidated for a while but i just jumped in. i have 2 @ 8" in a 120, about to upgrade but i doubt i'll add more rays. 2 is enough for me though i may get a 2nd female. i catch the catfish at the lake and filet them, buy my shrimp and worms at walmart, i keep my feeders in the pond because i buy in bulk and it keeps the goldfish full and healthy. they just started showing intrest in pellets so i hope that too brings the food bill down.

as for the water changes. once a week 50% WC does it for me at the moment. my nitrates stay just barely detectible. I love memphis water it comes perfect, straight from the ground

 

[T1KARMANN]

50% water change at one go is to much 2 x 25% would be better

When I used to do water changes I used to drain 25% dose the whole tank water with prime then fill the tank directly from the tap

My temp was at 86 when filling the tank back up from the tap the temp used to drop down to 80-82 the rays used to love the change in temp as it stimulated rain fall which in turn made them breed thinking it was they rainy season

50% is to much it will make the temp drop to much so you may need to heat the new water = more work and it may have a impact on the ph rays don't take kindly to changes in ph especially once per week

 

[sponger_2]

50% water change at one go is to much 2 x 25% would be better

When I used to do water changes I used to drain 25% dose the whole tank water with prime then fill the tank directly from the tap

My temp was at 86 when filling the tank back up from the tap the temp used to drop down to 80-82 the rays used to love the change in temp as it stimulated rain fall which in turn made them breed thinking it was they rainy season

50% is to much it will make the temp drop to much so you may need to heat the new water = more work and it may have a impact on the ph rays don't take kindly to changes in ph especially once per week

i do 50% water changes every 4 days. If u use both cold/hot outlets u can adjust it so that the water coming out matches the water in the tank. as for ph, im not sure if mine changes before/after water change. will find out today though.

 

[T1KARMANN]

I would never ever use hot water from the tap as I wouldn't drink it so it's not going in my tank simple

The temp drop is a good thing not a bad thing the temp drops at night and when it's raining

People are far to fussy making up big tubs of water to age the water and getting it to the right temp

 

[lincolngoh]

Short term temperature changes are ok. Even if the water is 7-8 degrees colder, when 50% is changed, 3-4 degrees does not really affect a healthy ray much, esp with ambient temperature slowing bringing the water to its normal temperature within 2 hours.

It's prolonged periods of low temperatures which rays don't seem to like. Their metabolic rate slows down and they may not digest as well. Good for a day or two for transport as it decreases the ammonia they produce, but they are much happier in a tanks 25-29 degrees.

 

[J.Lake]

Well i think if you got there parameters right and ur willing to clean the tank alot and u know the basics like nitrates 0-10 nitrites 0 Amonia 0 and temperature roughfly 81-82 degrees then in say do some more reasearch and go for it.

0 to 10 ppm nitrates? how much u dripping?

 

[OMGFISH]

I would pretty much just get it. But only 2 or 3 if u r getting a pond. If it is only the tank then only 1 ray. As long as u have the money and time to take care of them then i would go for it. Even tho the retic ray is harder to take care of i would start out with that. If u r able to handle that then u can pretty much get any ray if u r willing to spend more. I know motoro ray is easier but most people wen the motoro dies then they do not buy another due to price. Sometimes it is not even ur falt that that the ray died. So u could get about 3 chances with the ray from ur folks and then if u fail in all of them then get the motoro. Probably ur parents would get pissed tho.