How long?

[P.A.NativesBPM]

MFK, this is my first post so PLEASE go easy on me. (I see that you can be rubbed the wrong way and kinda freak out so I'll try not to...rub you.) that kid Sam I can see is really angering you, so I'll ask the question that I think he should have asked. How LONG can a hystrix ray live in a 125 gallon? I've heard they grow fairly slow, and thought I would wait and watch Sam's threads because at the rate he was going, he was getting the answers to all my questions but sadly the kid took a beating, and wasn't going to ask the rest of my questions.


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[scott s]

With few tankmates and good filteration/WC...over a year. So plenty of time to upgrade. That being said, I would highly recommend starting with a 180g. Plenty of cheap used ones on creigslist.

 

[Joee3196]

a good wile maby more than a year but a 180 would be better b/c it hase more bottom space

 

[montyblue]

Raysrule, I'm not new to rays, although I am still new to the forum like you, so I don't feel bad for answering!

I think when a ray is too big for your tank you'll know. When you start questioning whether or not it has enough room, you've probably just answered your own question. I like to grow out rays in 'smaller' quarantine tanks (75 or 90), and move them up once they are a bit larger. I'm not sure if there is a monthly or yearly number to set on that though. With sufficient biological filtration in a 125, I'd bet it could be up to one and a half to two years (if you are starting with a hystrix pup). But it could be less! The solution to pollution is dilution - so the bigger the better when they are ready to move up!!

Good luck! I'm sure you'll get plenty of great advice here. Do you have your ray yet?


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[vamptrev]

could last 1 to 2 years with just 1 hystrix. a wider footprint will help too

 

[P.A.NativesBPM]

I do not have my ray yet. What do you consider the minimum tank size for a hystrix?


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[vamptrev]

for a single hystrix and no other tank mates? for life?

i would say a 220. but also depends on the floor footprint. wider the better

 

[JohnG]

I was able to keep 5 hystrix in a 210G, 6'x2' footprint, for about a year. I had excellent filtration and automatic water changes to make this possible. Was getting to crowded so they got moved to a bigger tank, but if it was just 1 or 2 I probably could have left them in there for another 6 months.

One or two for life I think you'd want something with a footprint atleast 72"x30", 36" would be best. A male will usually stay smaller than a female so if your just getting one that would be your best bet.

 

[P.A.NativesBPM]

I was able to keep 5 hystrix in a 210G, 6'x2' footprint, for about a year. I had excellent filtration and automatic water changes to make this possible. Was getting to crowded so they got moved to a bigger tank, but if it was just 1 or 2 I probably could have left them in there for another 6 months.

One or two for life I think you'd want something with a footprint atleast 72"x30", 36" would be best. A male will usually stay smaller than a female so if your just getting one that would be your best bet.

So what if I came across a 180 or 150 with an odd footprint. (that somebody custom made or something and is trying to get rid of) do you think a single male hystrix could go in a 180 with more frequent water changes? I haven't looked into footprints of a 180 to a 220 but if you just want water volume how much can you fluctuate? Because tanks like that are hard to come buy, and I'm not much for building.


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[JohnG]

A single male could go in a 180 for life if it had a wider foot print than normal 180s. Usually a 180 will be 6'x2'x2'. The 210 I have is just a 30" tall instead of 24" tall version of a 180.