Moving Youngsters to Pellet

[PeteLockwood]

So I've joined all you pros in the ranks of Ray Keepers - specifically three young Motoro from Pat @ Amazon Stingrays just over a week ago.

They're approximately 4.5-5.5" in diameter right now and eating earthworm. The middle-sized ray has also immediately taken to shrimp - she's a total chow hound, which is obviously very nice

My question is this: how young is too young to try to 'force' them to move to pellet (or shrimp) by eliminating the earthworm? Obviously I can soak pellet in worm entrails to try to help the process along but what I really want to know is: are these guys too small to undergo the process at this point?

Obviously I don't want to harm them in any way and I have absolutely no problem keeping up the earthworm for as long as is necessary, just wondered what the experienced among you thought on the age/size question.

 

[ShadowStryder]

So I've joined all you pros in the ranks of Ray Keepers - specifically three young Motoro from Pat @ Amazon Stingrays just over a week ago.

They're approximately 4.5-5.5" in diameter right now and eating earthworm. The middle-sized ray has also immediately taken to shrimp - she's a total chow hound, which is obviously very nice

My question is this: how young is too young to try to 'force' them to move to pellet (or shrimp) by eliminating the earthworm? Obviously I can soak pellet in worm entrails to try to help the process along but what I really want to know is: are these guys too small to undergo the process at this point?

Obviously I don't want to harm them in any way and I have absolutely no problem keeping up the earthworm for as long as is necessary, just wondered what the experienced among you thought on the age/size question.

If they will take them now, great. Try using the methods suggested
in many feeding threads. But I would stay away from starvation method
especially at this young of an age.

Pats pups usually all it well when they come in. I had three at one time,
all converted to frozen foods easily (except scallops). Never have tried
to convert to pellets though.

 

[vamptrev]

i would try shrimp and smelt first b4 pellets. i found it harder to get them on pellets unless u start at birth.

i would keep them fat for about 2 months b4 any starving methods are used.

 

[wetsocks]

hello mate, you don't really need to "force" your rays onto pellets.

i had the same problem for years!! i've been forcing them onto pellets but no luck.
and this been on and off for a very long time.

then recently i been feeding them what they normally eat, (frozen shrimps, squid etc). then add a few pellets in there as well.
over three weeks one of the ray start eating the pellets and then a week after other ray also picking on the pellets and now one more ray is starting to eat it too.

so just give it alittle everytime you feed them what they normally eat and then over time they will under stand that it's also food.

good luck

 

[Kolossus]

I would just consistently infuse the shrimp or earthworm with crushed pellets (soaking them as I'm sure you've already read) and they may eventually start taking the pellets without the other foods. I think consistency is key...even though it may take a while. 3 out of 5 of my rays are pellet trained even though they've had the same amount of "attempted" training.

 

[sharp tooth]

just throw a few in with each feed. all my rays started to take them with forcing them. it may take a while but they will start eventually.

rays are never to young to start on a quality pellet.

i have 3 rays that love pellets so im useing those to brake the others onto them. i feed only pellets on a morning before i go to work the feed the others when i get home. the last ray i converted started to take them all on its own when i had left for work.

 

[PeteLockwood]

Non-pellet-related update.. As of today all three are happily eating shrimp

The smallest (the male) took to it of his own accord two weeks after the first female. The last female, who was originally the biggest of the three (but not now with the other female getting 6 weeks head-start on shrimp) was more work. In the end the solution was to cut up earthworm, mix it with chunks of shrimp and freeze it in an ice cube tray. It took four days of her eating that and still ignoring plain shrimp but this morning - and again this evening - she accepted plain shrimp direct from my fingers.

I'll work on the pellet in time but removing the dependency on live food is nice

 

[SpeshulEd]

Good deal. I'd use a similar method when introducing pellets. I've also noticed that if the pellet is too big, they seem to ignore it because they can't get it in their mouth in a single bite.

When I introduced pellets to mine, I'd just slosh the thawing raw shrimp in a cup with the smaller hikari carnivore pellets. At first they'd ignore the pellets, but within a couple of days they were eating those too. I think the smell/taste of shrimp/seafood on the pellets helps convince them its food. Especially once they realize shrimp is food.