Never Been So Happy To Have Been Bitten By A Ray!!!

[Kolossus]

Do you normally hand feed your rays? Or just this one because he still has the cover on the barb?

I can hand feed just about all of my fish including my bigger rays (with no barb cover), 15in Indo, 27in+ Arowana, 11in Mbu, discus, tigrinis, even my smaller Jardinis.

I do not have a a drip system and I do alot of water changes. I think my fish are used to me in the tanks and trust that when I come around, I'm either cleaning or bringing goodies.

Even my little indos are beggars and if I feed them without soaking their brine shrimp and bloodworms in vita-chem, I just take the piece of frozen food in my hand and dissolve it in their tank water. They get impatient and just eat it right out of my hands.

 

[MeAko]

I can hand feed just about all of my fish including my bigger rays (with no barb cover), 15in Indo, 27in+ Arowana, 11in Mbu, discus, tigrinis, even my smaller Jardinis.

I do not have a a drip system and I do alot of water changes. I think my fish are used to me in the tanks and trust that when I come around, I'm either cleaning or bringing goodies.
.

My question really was a clarificatory one, made without any sense of admiration but out of curiosity as to why someone would put themselves consciously in harms way.

 

[Kolossus]

My question really was a clarificatory one, made without any sense of admiration but out of curiosity as to why someone would put themselves consciously in harms way.

Understood. You must not have rays. It is fairly easy to hand-feed without putting yourself in harm's way. If the ray is coming head first to the top of the tank/pond, and you feed with your hand just slightly over the edge of the tank, it is fairly impossible to get stung. Its not like my hand is at the bottom of the tank with all the rays swimming around my hand eating.

I think more people get stung from cleaning and/or maneuvering things in and around their tanks and startling the ray. Not sure I ever heard of anyone getting stung by hand-feeding.

I appreciate your concern/interest/inquiry. And though I am quite aware of the rays (and other fishes) dangers and capabilities, I am no amateur...nor have I ever been stung in all my years of ray-keeping.

 

[MeAko]

Its not like my hand is at the bottom of the tank with all the rays swimming around my hand eating.

I appreciate your concern/interest/inquiry. And though I am quite aware of the rays (and other fishes) dangers and capabilities, I am no amateur...nor have I ever been stung in all my years of ray-keeping.

Must admit my first vision was what you stated in your first paragraph. Feeding from the surface sounds a lot safer. Thanks for clarifying.

However, I'm gonna bet that most of the people who got stung are more senior keepers like yourself as there might be a tendency to get a sense of false comfort with these creatures, this is something I pray I never fall into. Stever Irwin was definitely no amateur too, unfortunately.

But good that you clarified, gives us ray newbies more perspective. Thanks.

 

[Greez]

I'd love to own a ray... sadly I dont see that happening for a long time
But I love seeing pics of yours and others

 

[Kolossus]

Dive in there buddy! Its not as hard as you may think. Just do your research and take the plunge.

 

[Kolossus]

However, I'm gonna bet that most of the people who got stung are more senior keepers like yourself as there might be a tendency to get a sense of false comfort with these creatures, this is something I pray I never fall into. Stever Irwin was definitely no amateur too, unfortunately.

Great point. Again, I've never heard of these incidents being a result of hand-feeding. But startling the ray as a result of a relaxed comfort level are the accounts that seem to encompass the majority of incidents. I try to always be extremely careful, and also encourage others to be cautious with rays.

Steve Irwin's case was extremely rare and freak and the ray was larger than he was...not even remotely comparable to the danger level within the discussion here. The good thing about the freshwater rays we keep is that they are relatively small animals. In the off chance we do get stung, it is highly unlikely that we will experience anything more than extreme pain and discomfort for a relatively short span of time. My goal is to NEVER get stung.

If hand-feeding was that dangerous, trust me...I wouldn't be doing it.

Good luck with your new ray.

 

[prasanna]

awesome ray!all the best!

 

[Laosy Fish]

Indeed it is...And indeed she does!



LOL! Unfortunately B, you're about third in line if I do decide to sell. But I take that as a compliment...Thanks bro! We'll see what happens.

Must admit my first vision was what you stated in your first paragraph. Feeding from the surface sounds a lot safer. Thanks for clarifying.

However, I'm gonna bet that most of the people who got stung are more senior keepers like yourself as there might be a tendency to get a sense of false comfort with these creatures, this is something I pray I never fall into. Stever Irwin was definitely no amateur too, unfortunately.

But good that you clarified, gives us ray newbies more perspective. Thanks.

I'd love to own a ray... sadly I dont see that happening for a long time
But I love seeing pics of yours and others

Great point. Again, I've never heard of these incidents being a result of hand-feeding. But startling the ray as a result of a relaxed comfort level are the accounts that seem to encompass the majority of incidents. I try to always be extremely careful, and also encourage others to be cautious with rays.

Steve Irwin's case was extremely rare and freak and the ray was larger than he was...not even remotely comparable to the danger level within the discussion here. The good thing about the freshwater rays we keep is that they are relatively small animals. In the off chance we do get stung, it is highly unlikely that we will experience anything more than extreme pain and discomfort for a relatively short span of time. My goal is to NEVER get stung.

If hand-feeding was that dangerous, trust me...I wouldn't be doing it.

Good luck with your new ray.

i sit there with my feet in the pond/tank with my rays...nothing better than having someone suck on your toes!!!

 

[Kolossus]

i sit there with my feet in the pond/tank with my rays...nothing better than having someone suck on your toes!!!