Long time stalker, first time poster {Hi Bob...thanks...}.
I have 2 rays - a traditional motoro with nice orange spots and a new baby. I also work at the Shedd Aqu in Chicago and spend alot of time in the Amazon exhibit (some awesome FW rays) when not playing with my saltwater water critters. I digress.
I'm trying to ID the baby. (I know, pics - working on it.) I starting with the color and scheme approach but have found the same confusion described above. Now I'm trying traits, but haven't found a good database yet (fishbase - not so good here).
So here is what I know: no thorns on tail, fleshy, thin rail on each side of tail from base, tail reduces to a point (as opposed to blade), tail goes from color to black, tail approx length equal to disc diameter. Presently green/ coloring with flowering pattern. Protruding eyes (distinctly green/yellow with cat pupil - unlike my moto whose black eyes often take on a blue appearance and no discernable pupil). Although largerly transluscent (I think due to age), appears he will have mostly white underside with green color near the edges. Odd - while I have weened him off live food, he will eat raw shrimp and blood worms, but have none of any of the white fishes my moto craves.
Working on pics, but thoughts? (My LFS believed to be hystirix - but they aren't really knowledgable. The presently have a nurse shark pup for sale - we are already keeping an eye from the aquarium because we all know how this story typically ends...
I have 2 rays - a traditional motoro with nice orange spots and a new baby. I also work at the Shedd Aqu in Chicago and spend alot of time in the Amazon exhibit (some awesome FW rays) when not playing with my saltwater water critters. I digress.
I'm trying to ID the baby. (I know, pics - working on it.) I starting with the color and scheme approach but have found the same confusion described above. Now I'm trying traits, but haven't found a good database yet (fishbase - not so good here).
So here is what I know: no thorns on tail, fleshy, thin rail on each side of tail from base, tail reduces to a point (as opposed to blade), tail goes from color to black, tail approx length equal to disc diameter. Presently green/ coloring with flowering pattern. Protruding eyes (distinctly green/yellow with cat pupil - unlike my moto whose black eyes often take on a blue appearance and no discernable pupil). Although largerly transluscent (I think due to age), appears he will have mostly white underside with green color near the edges. Odd - while I have weened him off live food, he will eat raw shrimp and blood worms, but have none of any of the white fishes my moto craves.
Working on pics, but thoughts? (My LFS believed to be hystirix - but they aren't really knowledgable. The presently have a nurse shark pup for sale - we are already keeping an eye from the aquarium because we all know how this story typically ends...
