Ray eating issue....

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T

tazjack

Candiru
MFK Member
Mar 10, 2010
102
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46
Illinois
I'm wondering if anyone has ever experienced a ray not being able to eat, and if so, if you can share your situation and the outcome. So by not being able to eat, I mean makes an attempt to eat but ends up pulling all of the food past (not just being picky about eating). Someone has told me that they experienced older rays with "jaw rot" so I'm wondering if there are other things that can prevent a ray from being able to eat (water parameters fine, i've tried nightcrawlers, blackworms, bloodworms, shrimp, tilapia, crayfish, massivore pellets). I've watched this ray attempt to eat for some time and believe that he may have eaten only 2 times that I believe to be an accident as crazy as it sounds. If anyone has any advice at all it would be appreciated. I dont want it to die but I'm starting to lose hope. You can post here or just pm me.

Thanks alot.
 
I'm assuming you got this ray from someone else. How long ago was that? What was he feeding on there?

Also, what are tank dimensions, tankmates, and water readings?
 
Yes, about 4 wks ago. He was being fed shrimp and massivore pellets ( i cant remember if nightcrawlers also). He's currently in a 8x2x2' tank (temp) with other small rays (under 7"), 1 catfish, 1 bass, 3 knifefish. All eating alot and interacting fine (meaning no one's stressed). The Hen actually interacts fine in the tank as well, just not eating...I assumed the water parameters were fine since all other fish were just fine, but I'd have to test for exact readings. Thats why I thought it was weird. He actually tries to eat...:(
 
Test the water. You can't assume that everything is ok just because only one fish is having problems.

Also, have you tried feeding at night w/ lights out?
 
Ray that old and been in captive for awhile so it should be eating fine. Just feed it whatever the last owner feed and check the water I am sure the different water parameter might shock. I notice mine eating less or no eating when ph below 6.5.
 
For sure, and I definitely agree. I will check all parameters. Tomorrow I will try to take a video so that you can have a better idea of what I'm referring to. I have tried lights off, dim, and on. I've tried small pieces and large pieces as well. He has no problem attempting to eat with the lights on. I will check pH as well. Thanks. I've been in touch with the previous owner to make sure that I'm feeding exactly as he was. I wish I could explain better his efforts to actually try to eat. I think the video will help you guys help me figure things out. I've seen rays refuse food before but this is a little different. Do you guys know if water parameters can affect biomechanical mobility?
 
Bummer, so sorry to hear. Double check all your conditions just to be sure - you just never know. Post a video, but I understand what you are saying - wanting to eat but not being able to eat is totally different than refusing food! Was it a wild caught ray? I wonder what the chances are that there is something stuck/lodged in there (hook?). If it's captive than the chances would be slim, unless he ate a cory cat or pleco or something!

This is going to sound insane, but I've force fed a smaller ray before - it was maybe around 4-5", so significantly smaller than yours, but he wasn't eating at all when I got him, and being a Leo especially, I wasn't about to not exhaust all of my options! I used rosies (a skinny smallish feeder fish), left it out of the water long enough for them to stop wiggling a lot (or you could flick them to stun), and then fed it through one of his spiracles (figured if food can come out, food could also go in). It DID work, and to my surprise after a handful of days force feeding him (numerous times a day), he finally developed enough strength and started feeding on his own. I'm sure it's not a very common situation, but I just wanted to let you know that I've had to do something unorthodox in a situation where health looked fine otherwise, and thankfully ended up with positive results.

Hang in there, and don't give up! Post a video when you can :)
 
Thanks alot. Its definitely worth something to consider. I did try silversides but nothing live yet (except crayfish). At this point its worth trying. I was advised to just give him time but now I think it's been too long. I will work on the video tonight when I get home. I will do a water change, check parameters, whatever I have to do to make sure its nothing I'm doing wrong. I do have some pH stuff I used to use a while ago with my rays but have not used it with this current setup. I was actually thinking that maybe he was too weak myself. I watched him try to eat the crayfish but he could not get it in his mouth to eat it....I watched him trap it against the glass and actively try to eat but it always got away. Then when I see my 7" marble take a go at it with no problem in trying to get it down, I assumed it was an issue with the ray itself as opposed to my parameters (so that you know where the thought came from). Thanks again. I'm hoping to post a feeding video soon.
 
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