Ray for Beginner/ Info

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bsagecko

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 4, 2008
5
0
1
Florida
Hello I am new to SW rays and rays in general

I was planning on just doing freshwater stingrays but I live in florida and it is illegal

I currently keep reef tanks and have kept other fish and tanks in the past

I understand the need for attention to detail on water quality

However could someone give me some info on a good beginner species that maybe a lil more forgiving

I can build any size tank within reason but as far as filteration I need to go with a low cost system so refuges and liverock are good and the protein skimmer needs to either be DIY or something i already have.....

I am thinking of just a single ray in a beautifully laid out tank, no companions besides like maybe few snails.......also need some info on diets and size requirement of the given species..........thanks in advance
I dont plan on getting one for at least another 6~12months.....so tons of time just need the info so i can start getting a general idea
 
Okay,you seem to be experienced enough.I'll try to give you some info,as I am currently keeping an atlantic ray myself.I think you know NO ray is a "beginner" fish.However,I have found yellow rays and cortez rays are easy starters.And if you have the space,bluespotted rays(not the commonly offered one).Avoid coral sand.I use a very fine aragonite SAND,not plain aragonite.Try to go low on the lr and decor,as they can easily scratch themselves.Same with heaters.Keep them covered to prevent intense burns.GOOD FILTERATION!Think wet-drys or fluidized bed filters,or if you can find a VERY good canister filter. For skimmers,what brands do you have?I've used Prizm and Octopus(not the HOB type).Try feeding them shrimp,squid,silversides,or clams.If you can't get them to take any of them,try fiddler crabs or white shrimp(livefoods).My atlantic ray ate snails so you might want to rethink that some.If you really want inverts,try cleaner shrimp or spiny lobsters,as I've had success with both.Some people have used hermit crabs too.That's all I can giv
 
Ok....i realize about the zero decor....i figured like a 4" sand bed of like really soft fine grain sand? Could i go bare bottom or is this not recommended since you lose the detrivoes and sand bacteria benefits?

the skimmer i would use is only rated for 175g tank it is an ETSS series skimmer......I know it is under rated and prbly not good enough but unless it is an absolute must the skimmer stays as is

I have 3 wet-drys and i could make a fluidzed bed filter or buy relatively cheap
I was thinking of having a refugium to remove excess nitrates and phosphates to make up for the skimmer as the macro-algae takes it and removes from system actually faster than the PS....the heater will go in one of the sumps so that it is not even in the tank so no-burns will happen............

The only atlantic ray i have seen was marketed as a freshwater ray on my lfs.......which is what first got me interested couple months back but since then I discovered that this pratice actually kills the ray pre-maturely...........so yeah

I am looking into the cortez ray..........how many you think i could keep in

8ft long 4ft wide and 2ft high?
or should i go to 8ft long 5ft wide and 3ft high?
 
I would keep the sand bed,as for the reasons you listed.depth should be fine,though I never go past the 5 inch mark.The refugium sounds like a good idea.As for filteration,you seem to be covered.At this point I would use an effective fluidized bed filter or 2 wet drys,unless your planning to use them for something else.As for the skimmer,I'm really stuck.If you can make your own skimmer,I would really do that!I think make one that's rated or above your tank size.Length and width are the most important factors in shark/ray setups.I would go with 8 ft long by 5 ft wide and 3 ft tall,though height isn't important.You could always do 8 ft long by 5 ft wide by only 1-2 feet high,though your first measurement option would be okay too. would plan on only keeping one.Trust me,they DEMAND good water.And about the atlantic ray:It's pretty sad to see that huh?None of them really come from the St.Johns river too.My was sold as a freshwater one.I had to SLOWLY convert it back to full saltwater(1.020 SG).
 
I thought about doing the same with this one. Try to save it.......but i dont have the space nor the resources right now........It would just die by my hand instead of theres

No one i even now has ever even kept rays before (they all think i am crazy)

to build a skimmer by my plans for a tank that big will cost me around $250 so......I will definately do it because I dont want to risk the invest of the ray but it sets back the time a little bit as money is hard to come by at my age. Better to weight then to kill though.....thanks for the info.....I am hoping to move to the Northeast so that I can keep Freshwater rays while i go to college up there..........good luck and thanks
 
hey where do you find this freshwater rays from florida for sale i would love to get one if you could please PM me with the place you can buy one i know there atlantic and that they are found in the st jhons river in florida so they will be eassier to take care of that the south americans i live in florida also and my water peramiters would be eassy to replicate that of the ray if you can please help i owuld apresiate it thanks
 
True FW rays are illegal in FL.
Atlantics aren't really FW and will suffer greatly if you keep them there long term.

BSAGecko - you've asked a lot of the right questions, and sounds like you're on your way to a nice ray tank. The more water you can have the better for keeping rays. They kick out a lot of waste.

I've kept rays with only a pt skimmer and a mechanical filter as long as there is enough water movement in the substrate bed to avoid anaerobic pockets from building up.
 
yes your right as far as most the atlantic sting rays but there is a morph of it that lives in the st jhons river in florida that it hole life cycle is spent in fresh water i was hoping some one ether had all ready breed them or is actevely chaching them
 
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