Happened to me before with long term high nitrates. My drip wasn't working properly and when I tested it it was only dripping .5gph I stead of 4gph usual
Lost a ray today
- Thread starter Dixon81
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Well i picked up Prazipro, earthworms and hikari carnivore pellets. Lets get this tank dosed, the ray eating worms then try to break her into pellets once she is fat.
A
AquaAlex1993
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Those two points you see near the tail are the hip bones. Something you don't want to see. If your rays are eating they may have too much competition or you are not feeding enough. They are skinny enough that I imagine they could die from complications of nitrate poisoning. I think it's been sugar coated a bit, you need to make sure they are being fed as much as they will eat, if they are eating.
You can consider adding a generous amount of live blackworms. There is a very minor contamination risk, they're pretty safe. They will live in the substrate and provide a constant food source, to forage between meals while you are away. Better alternative to leaving extra uneaten food which fouls water. I would do this.
I know a few breeders who only feed once a day. They use the constant live blackworms in place of additional feedings for the juveniles to keep down maintenance.
I know a few breeders who only feed once a day. They use the constant live blackworms in place of additional feedings for the juveniles to keep down maintenance.
I am a big boy, i don't need anything sugar coated. I also don't think anything has been sugar coated. You arent the first to say they are skinny. Everything i have posted above has been true. Apparently i am not feeding enough and i have noticed a big of lack of appetite lately, Possibly due to high nitrates? 97% of substrate was removed last night, sump was given a big cleaning to get these nitrates down. Prazipro was added and will due a huge water change at the end of the treatment.
I will keep everyone posted. I have never bought or even seen live blackworks for sale. What type of store would sell these?
Just offering alternative causes to underfeeding. I don't know enough about your setup or fish keeping experience to assume very much. You are taking the proper steps, and I hope to hear some positive news. I think you can overnight blackworms if you can't get them locally. The only thing I meant by the sugar coating bit is that calling them skinny is like calling one of those 80lb anorexic girls skinny, true to a point but the case is quite severe. If you can isolate them and powerfeed earthworms, massivore, food soaked in vitachem and as much as they will eat. You will see fecal matter if you observe frequently and feed heavily, the more you see the more you will know you are moving in the right direction.
Didnt read all this thread yet, but looks like your rays are staving to death man! If they are eating then you need to feed more! If they are eating, then no need for black worms. Earthworms/nightcrawlers are like candy and most rays love them, they fatten rays up very quickly. i would suggest feeding as much as you can. Keep up waterchanges, maybe even do a few more than usually if you feed more than normal.
Not worry about nitrate, that is not a problem at all. Sure lower the better, but not what is killing the ray, and with rays it is nearly impossible to keep nitrate very low.
And as far as the parasite concern, most rays carry parasites, but a healthy ray wont normally show and problem, until it gets stressed or something changes to weaken the system. Your rays are not healthy looking so i am thinking they have week immune systems! Keep feeding!!! do SMALL waterchanges every day, of even small ones couple times a day IMO until things are looking better.
Not worry about nitrate, that is not a problem at all. Sure lower the better, but not what is killing the ray, and with rays it is nearly impossible to keep nitrate very low.
And as far as the parasite concern, most rays carry parasites, but a healthy ray wont normally show and problem, until it gets stressed or something changes to weaken the system. Your rays are not healthy looking so i am thinking they have week immune systems! Keep feeding!!! do SMALL waterchanges every day, of even small ones couple times a day IMO until things are looking better.
To add to this, i recommend getting a PH meter, i think JK mention PH earlier. A constant PH is important. You may be having swings of PH thru the day and not know it. With a PH meter you can watch your ph and adjust your drip or water change to keep PH constant.
What size is this tank? has it been set up long?
What size is this tank? has it been set up long?
