ID these "guyanas"

[JD7.62]

Here are two rays my LFS has labeled as guyana. What species are they? They are both males and very healthy. I asked to see them eat and they guy said they probably wouldnt due to the fct they have only had them for a few hours, but the two destroyed a couple dozen ghost shrimp!

The price is $67.50

What do yall think?

P.S. sorry the pics are crappy cellphone cam!

 

[Honda12]

Do they have indents in their forhead right between the eyes? From the pics it looks like they do. Also could you see any pelvic bones sticking out right before the base of the tail?

It sounds good that they are eating but if they have the signs that I asked if they had I wouldn't get them. Cuase if they have those signs them they would be pretty malnurished. Their could be a chance to save em if they are malnurished but I wouldn't put your money on it.

If you want one, I would see if the store would hold one for you for three or four weeks and see if they make it. But from the pics they look pretty bad off.

 

[JD7.62]

Actually they dont. The smaller was a little bit skinnier then the larger brown one, but as you should be able to see how thick the brown one is in the side profile.

 

[Honda12]

Well the thinkness in the side profile, is just his stomach full of ghost shrimp. If you are still interested in on though I would still have them hold it for at least two weeks. Also IMO I think the price is a bit high, but it just may be the area you are in.

 

[JD7.62]

Ok I have bought rays before and I know what to look for. I just need an ID. Fish in my area are cheap usually. $70 is the going rate for motoros around here.

 

[michael]

one definitely looks like a hystrix

 

[rvrrays]

Neither are histrix.

They look like they fall into that humerosa/orbignyi/dumerelli category.

The pictures are not super sharp and it is tough to tell. Better pictures would help....I assume that these are from a camera phone.

Any would be nice pickups if they are eating well.

Colin

 

[JD7.62]

rvr what are the sizes of the rays you mentioned?

 

[the_deeb]

I agree with Colin. I think they look like orbignyi - espcially the larger one but it's hard to make out the second one in your pics. I believe the max size of these rays is hard to know for certain since they are so frequently misidentfied but I would say probably at least 20". BTW, $70 for a motoro is an amazing price! I've seen 6" chain-links being sold for $150-250 around here.

I know people always say you shouldn't buy skinny rays, and I'm by no means an expert having only owned rays for a little while, but if they're eating aggressively I think you should be ok. I would actually suggest against leaving them at the lfs, just because in my experience, your average lfs doesn't really seem to know how to take care of rays and doesn't have any conception of how much they can eat. All the ones around here feed their rays exclusively ghost shrimp, which is a diet that doesn't seem to fatten them up well. I recently found a pair of retics at my lfs. They stuck around for a few weeks and were eating ghost shrimp but were getting progressively thinner. I took a gamble and brought them home (hipbones showing) and now they're nice and fat. I think they just weren't being fed enough. I think it's a good idea to leave rays at an lfs long enough to know they're healthy and aren't going to die from shipping, but don't count on them getting nice and fat.

Sorry for the long rambling post

 

[JD7.62]

Deeb, I agree with buying skinny rays as long as they are eating. I bought this motoro for less then $40. Yes she was skinny but look how she turned out.

I know humerosas stay small. Im not too familiar wtih dumerelli and orbiriginyi.