i have done both, but i see many replys for the drip method of ray aclimation and saying that the squirt and dump could kill the fish. yet at the same time miles sticky for aclimation states that the squirt and dump method has been used for years and never any issues. my personal exp. points to squirt and dump being better as the rays calm down faster. in the end witch is better? and why?
i am all mixed on ray aclimation
- Thread starter sbuse
- Start date
CrAzYNeSs;3857862; said:
thats what i was seeing aswell...
skynoch;3857885; said:
what would the cut off be? i dripped after 19-20hrs and squirt and dumped after 19-20hrs...they aclimated faster with the squirt and dump method...i also just dumped after 2hr travel and that ray was eatting as soon as it hit the bottom...
the only differences between the 2 longer shipped rays were;
first group(drip) all were eatting after 3 days, they settled in/ breathing normal after 2 days and were more stressed at first...all came in fine/ no shipping side affects
second group...they all settled in/ breathing normal after 30min...one started to eat after a week...one came in f'd from shipping and died the next day...one didn't eat and died a week later...
I squirt and dump for all cases, or even just scoop and dump if its like a 15 minute drive back home from a local store. I'm all up for the hassle free K.I.S.S. method. Haven't gone wrong with Mile's method before, neither have I gone wrong with Nic's simplistic scoop and dump method.
Gshock;3858160; said:
some say it also depends on the type of ray as some are more sensitive...any bad results that could be directly linked to the aclimation method with like a flower ray or something along those lines?
Have tried with a few tigers and flowers in the past, not really different from my other rays. The only flaw in my experience with them is that they all were bought/came in great shape and were eating almost immediately after being introduced to my tank. As in, I haven't really run into those flowers or tigers that are in poor or horrible condition yet so I have no idea how they would react to this method.sbuse;3858212; said:
I will allways say the fast drip method is the best.It gives the ray time to acclimate to all the water conditions of that tank.I never have rays go nuts in the tank after doing it.
Squirt and dump and ive seen rays shocked at first and then swim around eratically for a good hour after it.
And have had rays in transit for a good 36hrs and they still get a fast drip.
I had a ray shipped out UPS actually forgot to load the package arrived 48 hrs later ,he dripped how i told him and the ray acclimated just fine and was eating within hrs after ariving.
Everyone has a specific method they like.
Squirt and dump and ive seen rays shocked at first and then swim around eratically for a good hour after it.
And have had rays in transit for a good 36hrs and they still get a fast drip.
I had a ray shipped out UPS actually forgot to load the package arrived 48 hrs later ,he dripped how i told him and the ray acclimated just fine and was eating within hrs after ariving.
Everyone has a specific method they like.
Test, squirt and drip. The argument against drip is ammonia. Squirt covers that, making the argument moot.
The argument against dumping without dripping is osmotic shock. Squirt and dump doesn't address that.
The argument against dumping without dripping is osmotic shock. Squirt and dump doesn't address that.
Most bags of shipped fish the ph can get very low ,ive seen the bags at 5.0 and lower.Amonia is less toxic in a lower ph and the affects of amonia will take alot longer to affect the ray,PH shock can do more damage to a ray long term than short term.
Thats why you remove most of the bags water and keep just enough to cover the ray,use a fast drip line {do not crimp it,and let it flow open}with in 15 min you have replaced most of the water in the acclimating container with the tank water,then remove it to just above the ray again and let it flow for another 15 min.
And good to go,no need for detoxifiers or salt or stress coat.Net the ray and put in ,and he will be relaxed and ready to eat very quickly.
I have used this method for the last 17 yrs on everything from Cardinal tetra's to Discus and even salt water fish,with out any problems.
Thats why you remove most of the bags water and keep just enough to cover the ray,use a fast drip line {do not crimp it,and let it flow open}with in 15 min you have replaced most of the water in the acclimating container with the tank water,then remove it to just above the ray again and let it flow for another 15 min.
And good to go,no need for detoxifiers or salt or stress coat.Net the ray and put in ,and he will be relaxed and ready to eat very quickly.
I have used this method for the last 17 yrs on everything from Cardinal tetra's to Discus and even salt water fish,with out any problems.