Motoro belly color? Pink belly.....

[eddiegunks]

hey all

I have a female motoro in a 40 quarantine tank. She is the only fish. Two 40 gallon tanks hooked to a 55 gallon sump (about 120 gallons total) . Also have an above tank sump and an HOB. (Not playing around)

I had her 6 days. Treated with prazi on day one.

She ate market shrimp at lfs (i witnessed this). Eating blackworms on day 2. Day 3-6 eating trout worms. Eats 3-4 worms twice daily (can/should i feed her more?) . Produces waste.

API test kit. 0,0, 65 ( my nitrates are 25-30 outta my tap. It is a stuggle but all other fish live and eat well). 80F.

25% water change every 3 days. Waste is cleaned right away. Bare bottom tank (same at lfs). Tank bottom scrubbed every 4th day.

Do i need to worry about the pink belly? It seems inflamed to me. Any suggestions? She swims all the time, up the walls and across the floor. She eats very well.

Thx

 

[eddiegunks]

Ok. Just to be clear. Trout worms are about half the size of night crawlers.

I just gave her 3 more worms just now (she hammered them). and checked the water again.

0,0,25. pH8. Temp 80.

 

[Bigfishnut]

Keep her fed well, a healthy pup will pound food 3 times a day. Best to keep trying to figure out the proper amount by putting too much food in intentionally and seeing how much is left over, then adjust. The pink belly is normal with young motoros, although yours looks a bit more intense than normal. Keep an eye on it and keep that water perfect.

 

[eddiegunks]

Thx Bigfishnut

I will feed her as suggested. I will also see if i can get her eating other foods. I am just happy she is eating as well as she is. I dont like it when fish dont eat......it is best when they eat....

Thx for the post. I just want to keep ahead of any potential issues.

Cheers

Eddie

 

[Bigfishnut]

What I do to get new rays eating regular food is to cut up night crawlers and mix them in with tilapia, shrimp, and scallops. Let it sit for 10 or 15 minutes and the seafood will take on some of the nightcrawler flavor. Rays go crazy for this and it also gets them growing good

 

[keepinfish]

Everything looks fine to me, A pink belly is normal on a young ray.
Just remember, if it is eating it is doing fine..

 

[eddiegunks]

Everything looks fine to me, A pink belly is normal on a young ray.
Just remember, if it is eating it is doing fine..

thanks.

she is still hammering worms. i tried actual night crawlers this morning but she only ate one small one. i tried the trout worms mid day and she ate 3-3.5. then another two this evening.

cheers

 

[keepinfish]

That's strange. I find most rays don't like trout worms. They are more of a tough skin worm. I found flower rays were one of the only rays that were interested in them.

 

[eddiegunks]

She is still doing well. Eating market shrimp and worms. I will try some clams and tallapia later this week.

This pink may be slightly less, but still close.

Here's looking at you: