Moving

[Kwazy]

Hello,
In the coming days, I will be moving. My ray is also getting an upgrade from her 185 to something with over twice the footprint. The problem is that I don't know how to safely move her. Here are some of the interesting parts:
-16" ray with 2 massive barbs
-20 minute drive
-water chem in both tanks are the same (except for NO3-)
-it is -7 degrees F outside
-the ray is going from an aquarium with black sand to a stock tank with black walls and white sand

I've never moved a ray before (a 28" silver arowana is the biggest i've moved) and could use all the help/tips i can get (catching, moving, driving, acclimation, etc.).

thanks!

 

[FishDog]

With a ray that size and only a 20 min drive I would use a big rubbermade container from Walmart. It does not have to be 16" wide just close, the ray will be fine in this with no air supply for 20 min. Just put in back seat of car with the heat on. Now getting ray in the tub is the fun part. Since you have a 180 gallon you should have enough room to put the tub in the water, just press on the bottom and use a small net to guide the ray in then pick it up.

 

[scott s]

Large fish landing net (preferrably rubber netting) if using the nylon netting, the barb could get caught in it. If that happens, use side cuts to cut the barb. I use a zip tie on the net so that the net is more like a scoop instead of letting the ray go all the way to the bottom (narrrow) part of the net (may want to have leather gloves or a towel handy in case you have to wrestle with the tail any). Next, I use a new (rinsed out) 30 gal plastic trash can filled only 1/4 of the way with tank water. Then I add a little stress coat (Prime) and use a battery operated air pump. Warm up the car and transport to new location. Drip some water from the new tank into the can. After 20-30 min. I remove most of the water and slowly dump remaning water and ray in. Easy as that. Have someone there to give you a hand.

Some people use a clean laundry basket instead of a net.

 

[Tor-Eriik]

When i moved my 9 rays i tapped the tank almost all down, scared them a little so they went under the sand. Then i just slipped the tub under the sand, and they were in. No splashing and stressing, fairly easy. No mess at all.

 

[DIDYSIS]

+1 short drive so nothing to worry about with air, crank the heat up in the car and as said just buy a tub from walmart or if you have one your set. If you really want get a small heater and a power inverter for the trip, Keep heater protected from disk, but with such a short trip I would not worry about it. Warm the car ahead of time 80 degrees will be nice with that weather

With a ray that size and only a 20 min drive I would use a big rubbermade container from Walmart. It does not have to be 16" wide just close, the ray will be fine in this with no air supply for 20 min. Just put in back seat of car with the heat on. Now getting ray in the tub is the fun part. Since you have a 180 gallon you should have enough room to put the tub in the water, just press on the bottom and use a small net to guide the ray in then pick it up.

 

[T1KARMANN]

use a net that is to small

put the ray head first into the net with the tail sticking out of the net completely
if the tail goes into the net you are garanteed it will get caught in the net

a big polybox is better than a rubbermaid and it will stay warmer

nig rays are easy to move the aro will be more problems

 

[bcfd144]

yep, just get you a tub, drain some of the water out of the old tank. Put the tub in the tank and scoop the ray up. Ive done this several times and it works great.
Since its such a short drive, just like the guys above said, no need to have air in the tub. BUT I would take something that would allow you to put air in there just in case. You may get a flat or run into traffic. Better to be safe.
Keep us posted..

 

[Kwazy]

great. so I have and am planning on using a 75 gallon rubbermaid stock tank to move the ray. since i wont be able to fill it all the way because it would be too much to carry, should i find something else?
And in terms of the netting, i'm planning on using a big net and zip tying it so its flat and the ray wont get into the pocket. Then I'll drain some (Like 50%-75%?) of the tank water, put box into the tank and fill slightly with water, heard/scoop the ray in head first, lift the box out of the tank, add a little more water so the ray has enough to stay wet, warm, and breath. Then it will go in the back of the car @80 degrees, and over for a drip acclimation.

Also, Would it be safer to remove the barbs somehow before moving her or would that just be asking for trouble?

Cool. Does that seem ok? am i missing anything or doing something stupid?

 

[bcfd144]

Wouldnt remove the barbs. No reason to. Could cause more harm and stress on the ray and its not needed if you use the tote method to move the ray.

Just scoop the ray up with the tote. place the tote in the car, add some water to it then if needed and head to the new place.

You wont need to use a net. When you get to the new place, drain some of the water out of the tote. Carry it into the house and put the tote in the new tank so the ray can swim out of the tote and there you go. No net needed, no stress on her.

 

[DIDYSIS]

Just get ready to get wet. Oh that's right your not moving a bunch of overactive bass. The arrow will do though. My really large frontosas really splash a ton.

Sent from my DROIDX using MonsterAquariaNetwork App