Motoro Growth Rates.... *NEW PROJECT IN MIND*

[hmoobvwj]

Alright all....did A LOT of research and thinking on this for months now... I plan on getting around 6+ 4"-5" motoros (4 Females, 2 males) into my 180 gallon. They will be the only fish in there and I plan on doing what I do....
25%-30% Water Changes Daily....7 days a week....
Diet will be a stable of Nightcrawlers, Bloodworms, Pellets (If I get them on it), and Raw Shrimp...will be feed 2-3 times a day.

Here are the questions....How fast do they grow...I hear they do only around 2-3 inches a year and was wondering how fast do they normally grow, and how long (age) will they sexually mature at?

As for future plans I already got a buddy who has this HUGE pond, the size of a King sized Bed that I plan on getting for only $100!

Any inputs?
Thanks!

 

[hmoobvwj]

BTW the footprint of the tank for their growout will be 6x2x2.
The temperature will be always at a constant of 86-88 degrees..

 

[Nic]

Alright all....did A LOT of research and thinking on this for months now... I plan on getting around 6+ 4"-5" motoros (4 Females, 2 males) into my 180 gallon. They will be the only fish in there and I plan on doing what I do....
25%-30% Water Changes Daily....7 days a week....now that is stupid just set up a drip system and flow some serious water...
Diet will be a stable of Nightcrawlers, Bloodworms, Pellets (If I get them on it), and Raw Shrimp...will be feed 2-3 times a day. ditch the blood worms waste of time and money

Here are the questions....How fast do they grow...I hear they do only around 2-3 inches a year and was wondering how fast do they normally grow, and how long (age) will they sexually mature at?

ive had 6" rays hit 10" + in a year... your water params and food pay a huge part in this

As for future plans I already got a buddy who has this HUGE pond, the size of a King sized Bed that I plan on getting for only $100!
why not just put them in that pond....
Any inputs?
Thanks!

BTW the footprint of the tank for their growout will be 6x2x2.
The temperature will be always at a constant of 86-88 degrees..

why so hot???

 

[hmoobvwj]

Great points and thanks Nic but here are my reasons.

Why so hot because, that is usually the temp I keep all my fish at for faster metabolism, thus = more feeding thus = bigger faster, MONSTER.

That is a good point on why won't I just get the pond and put them in...because I already got the 180 gallon setup and the water and everything is already perfect for them to thrive in. And I still want to look at the rays from side view to see them eat and all.

As for the drip system...nah, as I consider carrying and sometimes curling the 5 gallon buckets as my daily exercise. (Tis true tis true)

And maybe I should keep the bloodworms. and stick to nightcrawlers as my past pair of retics loved them.

Thanks!

 

[sodenoshirayuki]

might as well just start off with the pond. 30% w/c IS really stupid, just do a drip system like Nic said. And a constant 88 degrees is just a big waste of electricity, 80 is fine.

 

[hmoobvwj]

I don't want to setup the pond and wait for it to cycle when I already have a tank free and up and running...hope you guys get what I'm saying. I will get the pond but it won't be until WI warms up a bit.
Fine for temp I'll keep it at 84 then....

 

[spring007]

Why so hot because, that is usually the temp I keep all my fish at for faster metabolism, thus = more feeding thus = bigger faster, MONSTER.

Thanks!

Are you trying to "super grow" them or are you trying to grow them naturally, ie how they grow in the wild?

I personally do not like "super growing" because of the fact that it MAY hamper with their other body functions because it is not natural

 

[hmoobvwj]

Well not exactly "super growing" or "power feeding" them but I'm just doing what everyone else here does.....feeding their baby rays 2-3 times a day.....

I'm sorry about keeping my water at such high temp, but that is what I do with all my fish....

 

[Zoodiver]

Keeping them that hot and growing them too fast will lead to major health issues down the road. A healthy growth rate will still give you fast growing animals. Run them at 80-82 for your best results.

As mentioned, that many water changes is a bit of an over kill.

As for you planned tank, 6 adult motoros in even that foot print will be kind of small.

For diet, mix it up even more. Feed a nice variety of foods that will replicate what they eat in the wild.

 

[Big Daves Rays]

and 6 rays in a 180 will get crowded if you super feed. Consider a bigger tank to start with, or plan on a bigger tank later.
I'm not a fan of power feeding either..... Not healthy in my opinion.
I feed my pups once a day, or every couple days depending on how many live blood worms i dump in.



ha ha ha Zoodiver, seems as you beat me to the punch by about 10 seconds.