new rays - extra issues with reticulata rays?

[nintri]

Hello, yesterday I picked up these two rays. They are in my 100 gallon tank which has a 4 ft by 2 ft floor space. One is a motoro and the other is a reticula.
I have attached a picutre.
I hear a lot about how reticulata or "teacup" rays are "harder" to keep. I want to know more about this.
1 - How do I make sure it is eating enough? I understand that this is the main challenge. I saw it eating some mysis shrimp today (viewed several mouthfuls) but it is not eating with the same enthusiasm as the motoro. I suppose the fact that it eat anything on the first day is a good sign but I wonder if there are signs of trouble to look out for. It is smaller than the motoro so that would explain some of it. Also, a good 10-12 ghost shrimp disappeared over their first night but I suspect that it is mostly the motoro as he is the only one I have viewed actively hunting them.
2 - Water quality. I will be testing the water quite regularly over the next days and weeks. However, I would like to know your opinion as to what amonia and nitrate levels you would see as a sign of a water change in need. Are reticulata rays more sensitive?

My main concern is to avoid any fatal newbie mistakes. Your advice would be appreaciated.

 

[DRONE017E]

offer black worms most retics love them them. frequent and large water changes is the best way.ammonia 0. nitrite 0 nitrate as low as possible . the retic looks a little skinny fatten him up. good luck and congrats on the new rays. Any other tank mates?

 

[streaker442]

where did you get these rays from? nice rays by the way offer plenty of black worms and keep up on the water changes

 

[ethnics]

ur retics tail is awesome. try to offer enough til the ray stops showing interest. i've had my retic for a month now and im still havin a hard time with feedings

 

[T]

the motoro shoudl be fine with eating.
the retics i think its 2 things that affects its eating
one is stress
and one is water.
once its eating then its good

 

[nintri]

Thanks!
I am very excited and I want to do the best job possible to make sure they live long and healthy. Luckily, I work from home so I have a lot of flexibility when it comes to frequent feedings and water changes.
I bought them from my LFS here in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada).

Question on getting my new retic nice and fat:
- Should I drop the food in a single spot of the tank to establish a routine or spread the food throughout the tank to ensure many opportunities to come across food? The motoro can find the food no problem so I wonder if it is simply providing the right food & environment (water quality, stress).
- Should I keep the tank lights off when feeding to reduce stress and encourage reluctant feeders? Or turn the lights on to allow them to find the food? I suspect that they find the food by smell but I don't know for sure.

Any other tips or tricks you have learned to get new retics (or other picky types) to eat and eat and eat?

I am going to find where I can locate black worms today. Thank you for your help!

 

[rallysman]

I started mixing krill in with bloodworms, and eventually the retic started eating krill. Once he was good with krill, I stopped with the blood worms and mixed chopped shrimp with the krill.

now he's eating all 3 readily, and is even tasting pellets.

 

[Euge]

rallysman how'd you mix the krill with the BW? Whenever i do that for finky eaters they go around the krill.

 

[nintri]

When you are talking about bloodworms and krill, are you talking about the frozen stuff? I beleive that I can only get the frozen food.

I phoned around just now and the common response from fish stores is that I will not be able to find live blackworms in my area. Any suggestions on sourcing them on-line?

 

[rallysman]

Yea, I was (and I am still) feeding the frozen stuff. I poured the worms and krill in the tank together, and eventually the ray got the idea that it was all food.