Hi I am interested in getting rays and ive read the stickies but I still have some unanwsered questions that I need anwsers to before I start. I want to build I 8x3x2 tank this is the maxium size I can go due to space restraints is this tank big enough to keep a breeding pair or possibly a trio of rays in? im good about keeping up with water changes and I would filter it well but this would need to be a for life size tank. If the tank size is ok what kind of rays would you reccomend? I want a speices that is more hardy and will breed in the aquarium (im a farmer so keeping animals is good and all but i really like it when they reproduce) Thanks for any anwsers I will continue to research as well but it will help me to research if these questions are anwsered. thanks.
Newbie Questions
- Thread starter steelayer
- Start date
if you can go 8x4, you would be able to keep a trio of motoros, motoros will breed in your 8x3, i know from experiance however ..... they will eventually outgrow it since they can get a 30+" disk
steelayer;3044797; said:
If you are willing to stick with Potamotrygon hystrix, P. scobina, or P. reticulata, then the tank size you had in mind would work (although I would still recommend at least a 8'x4' eventually). If you want a medium-sized ray (such as a P. motoro or P. leopoldi), however, you should go at minimum an 8'x4'.
If you are going with an 8'x3' tank, I would wholeheartedly recommend that you get a P. scobina if you can manage it. If you can't afford a P. scobina or a P. hystrix, I would recommend going with a P. reticulata. Retics are great rays, but they often are brought in (as wild caught rays) in very poor condition. If you can get ahold of some captive bred rays of any of these three species, I would say definitely go for it. All three species are hardy, although from my experience the P. hystrix rays will probably be the least picky when it comes to new foods.
If you have any more questions, don't be afraid to ask! You can also pm me any time and I'd be glad to help!
Thanks for the input so far guys!!! I really would rather go 8x3 instead of 8x4 because then the tank could fit through door ways so I could move it in the future. This weekend im heading to michigan but when I get back hopefully I can start buying materials and building my tank! I will keep researching the ray species you guys have reccomended thanks again!
if you are worried about the 8x4 fitting throught the door, only make it 2ft tall.... rays need a footprint over height, they normally stay on the bottom, this way you can flip it on its side and make it through the door, i agree, motoros are def one of the best starter rays
WoW im retarted i never even thought about flipping it on its side to get it out the door thats a DUHH lol thanks that considered a 8x4 would probaly be the best size sinice it wont really cost anymore to build anyways. Thanks!!! so with a 8x4x2 that would be big enough for 2 motoros for life right? is that big enough for a trio? or just a pair? thanks guys really appriciate it.
steelayer;3047780; said:
8x4x2 would accommodate a Potamotrygon motoro trio for life, but for their comfort I would really suggest something a bit wider (maybe 8'x6'?). I don't mean to discourage you at all, because an 8'x4' will physically hold them, but I think that with a bit more room they would have more territory to roam, etc.
With an 8'x4', it would be perfect for any of the 3 smaller species that I mentioned earlier, but if you kept up on your water changes and only kept a trio of P. motoro, then it is definitely workable.
scobina will be basically impossible to find... get a trio of hystrix from aquascape and call it a day...