Ray Question

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Hesh69

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 22, 2009
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Sri Lanka
hey guys..i hv no idea abt keeping saltwater rays so enlightn me plz..!! my question- what is the smallest ray i can keep in a aquarium? i love cownose rays but those guys get huge..and thy swim in all levels in the tank unlike freshwater sting rays! nyn recommends nything lik cownoses whom arnt bottom dwellers..!! thanx :headbang2
 
probably the california ray.. got this profile from SRC.

Care Profile on the California Stingray

calray68_s.jpg


Common Name: California Stingray

Scientific Name: Urobatis halleri

Alias: Round Stingray or Haller’s Round Ray.

Maximum Adult Size: Maximum total length is about 22 inches (56 cm), and a maximum disc width of 12.2 inches (about 31 cm).

Average Adult Size: about 13.8 inches (35 cm) TL, or about 8.0 inches (20 cm)

Maximum Adult Weight: about 2.98 lbs (about 1.35 kg)

Size at Birth: about 5.1” (13 cm) total length.

Size at Sexual Maturity: about 10.2" (26cm) total length, about 5.9” (15 cm) disc width.

Age at Sexually Maturity: roughly 2 to 3 years (24-36 months)

Growth Rate: averages about 1.1” (2.8 cm) in disk width, & about 1.9” (4.8 cm) in total length per year.

Longevity of species: approx. 8 years.

Geographical Distribution: found in warm-temperate to sub- tropical ocean from Northern California, to the Pacific coast of Panama.

Habitat: A very abundant small sized warm-temperate to sub- tropical stingray - found to a depth of about 90 meters (295 ft). Prefers sandy shallow bays, rocky reefs, and grassy seabeds.

Diet: mostly bottom dwelling inverts, like shrimp, small crabs, & worms. Also known to feed on small fishes.

Activity level: a fairly active species of stingray. They are active daytime feeders. Basically a fairly harmless species, but like all species of stingrays, it does have a poisonous stinger.

Preferred Water Temperature & Conditions: They seem to prefer a water temperature range of 54-74 F (12-23 C). And Salinity range of 27-33 ppt or 1.020-1.024, and a pH range of 8.0-8.4.

Minimum recommend pond/tank size for a California Stingray: about 360 gallons or 8' long x 3' wide x 2' deep for a single California ray. For a small breeding group of 2-3 adults at least 600 gallons or 10’ long x 4’ wide x 2’ deep.

The California Stingrays in captivity: This species does very well in captivity, and is often found in Home Aquariums and in some Public Aquariums. This species is generally very hardy, and usually acclimates quite well to captive life, provided that it has a good deal of swimming room. This species has also been known to breeding in captivity. Still this species seem to prefer cooler waters than most rays in it's genus.

Potential Problems: If this species is kept in tanks with water temps above 75 F (24C), the survival rate seems to drop drastically. So it is best kept in tanks with water temps below 72F.

Other Interesting Notes: Similar to the slightly smaller Cortez Rays, but it has pale spots instead of the brown ones of the Cortez.

Cited Sources:
Michael – 2001 “Aquarium Sharks & Rays”,
Elasmodiver.com - http://www.elasmodiver.com/round_stingray.htm
Fishbase.org - http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=2580
Flmnh.ufl.edu - http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Desc...ndStingray.html,
 
What size aquarium? I keep cownose rays - but my tank is a bit larger than average at 1700+ gallons.
 
+1 on the California rays. I have a female and 2- 7 week old pups, they are freindly and eat out of our hands and even let you rub them between their eyes although dont do that to much because I dont want to hurt their slime coat. Their hardy as far as Rays are and not to costly, 50-100.00 usually. They can get a foot across but havent ever seen one over 10" across myself. The eat shrimp right from the frozen food section at the grocery store along with squid, krill, clams, scallops and fish flesh. All in all i think they are the best choice for a smaller Ray unless you have a several thousand gallon tank/pond. They do need some decent room to swim as they are very active.
 
Hesh, how big is your tank? Any ray "with wings" is going to require a VERY large tank.

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