Usually only in public touch tanks. Cutting them off is a big risk to you and the ray, you do something wrong and it lashes out, you get tagged, you cut the barb wrong, you hurt the ray. Better to just leave it as it is, it'll shed the old one and grow a new one anyways so theres really no point of trimming the stinger if its not a public ray exhibit.profanityarts;3412949; said:
I know this happens rarely...
- Thread starter Kwazy
- Start date
i got stung by a wild yellow stingray in mexico about 5 years ago. its was in water that was maybe 2' deep. i put my hand down on the sand and ended up on top of a ray. it stung my wrist. lots of blood, lots of pain, it swelled up and i could only use my thumb and pinky fingers for a few days cuz the tendons in the other 3 fingers ran right through the swollen part of my wrist and it hurt too bad to move them. the ray was only about 8-10" across so idk how bad a big ray's sting would be...probably much much worse
i got stung about 4 years ago. not being stupid really.
i had 2 small rays in a trigon 180 grow out. both were 6 to 7" disc. i also had a 6" green asian aro in there.
went in the tank during a water change, aro flipped out hit the ray, ray fliped out and got me on the back of the finger. dident even see it just saw a puff of sand and felt a nick on the back of my finger.
very small cut tiny infact but about 5 mins later total agoni in my hand and it started to spred up my wrist. got a lift to A&E they had no idea, i told them i needed a bowl of water as hot as i could stand to put my hand in they said i had to wait for the doctor.
throbbing pain got worse and worse, felt sick faint really felt in a bad way lol.
sat in the waiting room for 3 hrs no one came, pain started to go so got up walked out and came home. i was fine the next day but my finger was stiff and my hand ached.
i had 2 small rays in a trigon 180 grow out. both were 6 to 7" disc. i also had a 6" green asian aro in there.
went in the tank during a water change, aro flipped out hit the ray, ray fliped out and got me on the back of the finger. dident even see it just saw a puff of sand and felt a nick on the back of my finger.
very small cut tiny infact but about 5 mins later total agoni in my hand and it started to spred up my wrist. got a lift to A&E they had no idea, i told them i needed a bowl of water as hot as i could stand to put my hand in they said i had to wait for the doctor.
throbbing pain got worse and worse, felt sick faint really felt in a bad way lol.
sat in the waiting room for 3 hrs no one came, pain started to go so got up walked out and came home. i was fine the next day but my finger was stiff and my hand ached.
This is actually probably one of the biggest reasons people will get stung by their pet stingrays. We see them every day as these cute little animals that we have little fear of, but they don't know anything about us, and are generally scared of things they don't know or understand. We have all seen our rays get spooked by something and dart across the tank or hide really quickly. It is that very reaction that will lead to someone getting stung. We know that when we are cleaning or redecorating the tank we aren't going to harm our rays, but they don't know that. Most of the time they will just find an area on the other side of the tank to hide while you are messing around in the tank, but its that slim chance of them wondering over to your area, or you moving over to their hiding spot and spooking them that will cause their reflex to trigger and sting you. They are just scared they don't know.Deaths Sting;3407333; said:
So be cautious, and understanding of their confusion and sometimes fear of us. Always be aware of where your ray is while you are in the tank, and you will be fine.
fastcarsnbigfishies;3416124; said:
^........Big generalization...... ^
not all rays act the same
my ray acts NOTHING!! like u described it... i know my ray!! u don't. so please don't generalize the whole topic...
Still, all the same, be careful, and respect it.Deaths Sting;3418420; said:^........Big generalization...... ^
not all rays act the same
my ray acts NOTHING!! like u described it... i know my ray!! u don't. so please don't generalize the whole topic...
About the venom, they're all the same, and when stung will give you the same symptoms.
You really do not want to experience being stung cos I have.
But after the experience, I always jokingly tell other ray keepers that they aint experience ray keeping 100% if they don't get stung at least once in their lifetime!
But after the experience, I always jokingly tell other ray keepers that they aint experience ray keeping 100% if they don't get stung at least once in their lifetime!
Deaths Sting;3418420; said:^........Big generalization...... ^
not all rays act the same
my ray acts NOTHING!! like u described it... i know my ray!! u don't. so please don't generalize the whole topic...
let me know how that attitude works out for ya. You're right, your ray totally knows who you are, what you're doing at all times, and that you in no way shape or form will ever ever ever harm it. It isn't that rays are "always" spooked easily, it is that if you don't see it and accidentally poke it or graze it while messing around in the tank while they were not watching you it could spook them and their reflex is to sting sometimes.Have you ever been scared by a family member or friend as a prank? And one of your reactions is to hit them (fight) or jump or run (flight) even though you know that person very well? it is a basic reactions that nearly all animals have.
But don't mind my opinion. Continue thinking your stingray is like a cute puppy dog and pet it and love it and squeeze it tight, because it TOTALLY understands everything you're doing and poses no threat what so ever
p.s. You said your ray acts nothing like what i described, but yet you also said your ray is more scared of you then you are of it. So how did you come to this conclusion if it does not act scared of you lol. interesting.
