pellets vs litter size and maturity

[eken21]

Hi!

I have a question. Is there correlation with stingrays feeding on pellets mainly vs rays that eat fish / shrimp / worms and litter size / maturity?

I have read somewhere that ray who only eats pellets give smaller litter size and gets mature later than those who eat fish / shrimp and worms etc.

Anyone who got experience about this ?

Thanks

/Eken

 

[RD.]

I doubt such data exists. Not even sure how one could compare considering all of the wide variations in fresh/frozen feed types, as well as pellet brand/formulas, as in nutrient levels and nutrient assimilation, as well as overall quantity ingested by each ray. Clearly this would have an affect on fecundity. There seems to be a wide variation in uterine fecundity and gestation periods among rays observed in the wild.

Reproductive Aspects of Freshwater Stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Patamotrygonidae) in the Brazilian Amazon Basin | Request PDF

Request PDF | Reproductive Aspects of Freshwater Stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Patamotrygonidae) in the Brazilian Amazon Basin | Freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygonidae) are the only elasmobranchs completely adapted for living in freshwater and all species studied so far... | Find, read and cite all...

www.researchgate.net

 

[Matteus]

I doubt such data exists. Not even sure how one could compare considering all of the wide variations in fresh/frozen feed types, as well as pellet brand/formulas, as in nutrient levels and nutrient assimilation, as well as overall quantity ingested by each ray. Clearly this would have an affect on fecundity. There seems to be a wide variation in uterine fecundity and gestation periods among rays observed in the wild.

Reproductive Aspects of Freshwater Stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Patamotrygonidae) in the Brazilian Amazon Basin | Request PDF

Request PDF | Reproductive Aspects of Freshwater Stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Patamotrygonidae) in the Brazilian Amazon Basin | Freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygonidae) are the only elasmobranchs completely adapted for living in freshwater and all species studied so far... | Find, read and cite all...

www.researchgate.net

Call me simple or uneducated, but I really wish they would have a translation in layman’s terms. I had to look up numerous words in the dictionary and still can’t quite grasp the sciencey lingo. I guess I should have paid more attention in school

 

[Gpdriftwood]

Great question eken21! I look forward to any relevant responses also.

 

[Reedmaster16]

I've never once read that before. But a pellet correlation to litter size is total hearsay.

Nutrition is vital. But habitat size, condition, and water quality would have a more measurable impact on overall health. In relation to the way most hobbyists/people here keep their rays.