Ray swimming and not eating

[geraldsoh]

Tank water is ok, check it and all good.

have another 6 rays inside and one of my 15 inch male ray suddenly went on a hunger strike for almost a week. only seen him eat 1 or 2 cut mp a day and suddenly from yesterday night onwards, he has been swimming non stop and no more eating. Rest of the rays are eating and healthy.

i can start to see the dent on his head forming. anyone can recommend how to treat this.

my tank is a 6x2.5x2.5 have been using melafix for a week but still no change, have also added 500g of salt to the tank.

been keeping him for more than a year. No new tank mates will added only removed. ph at 6.7

check the bottom of him with a touchlight but cant see anything on him.

have lost one MM female ray about a month back due to this same problem.

Thanks for the feedback in advance

 

[biggfish]

Had similar problem before. Sometimes water changes help and changing out filter media. Add nitrate and ammonia reducers to help keep it from spiking after you change out media.

 

[DB junkie]

I'd see what happens by removing half the rays. Sounds like too many rays in too small of an area if you ask me.... 6 rays is alot for 1 tank, ESPECIALLY at the size you mentioned. Are they all that big? In my experience a lack of appetite + constant swimming = a stressed ray looking for a way out.

I have an 8 X 2.5 x 2 with 6 rays in it. 2 @ 11 in, 1 @ 9in, and 3 @7in and I aim for 50% WCs every other day.

 

[DavidW]

6 rays inside ......15 inch male ray ..........
my tank is a 6x2.5x2.5

I totally agree with DB, unless the tank dimensions are meters or yards

 

[geraldsoh]

I'd see what happens by removing half the rays. Sounds like too many rays in too small of an area if you ask me.... 6 rays is alot for 1 tank, ESPECIALLY at the size you mentioned. Are they all that big? In my experience a lack of appetite + constant swimming = a stressed ray looking for a way out.

I have an 8 X 2.5 x 2 with 6 rays in it. 2 @ 11 in, 1 @ 9in, and 3 @7in and I aim for 50% WCs every other day.

currently only have this tank to house them until my fgt arrives which is around next week hopfully no delay.

i am running a sump with about 60kg of biohome plus and 80L of CR with a eheim 1624. WC 3 times a week with about 50% aged water. just check water perimeters all good. All the other rays seems active and healthy, eating like pigs.

now he has stop swimming around but still not eating, tried earthworm, ghost shrimps still same thing he just doesnt want to eat.

 

[DB junkie]

Give it a day divided off from the rest in the dark and see what happens.....

Not saying there's anything related to water quality..... But rather having rays stacked on top of eachother is probobly rather stressfull.

He may be telling you he's had enough and would like out now. This is why I say try the divider. I may be crazy or I may be right.

 

[geraldsoh]

Give it a day divided off from the rest in the dark and see what happens.....

Not saying there's anything related to water quality..... But rather having rays stacked on top of eachother is probobly rather stressfull.

He may be telling you he's had enough and would like out now. This is why I say try the divider. I may be crazy or I may be right.

my bad, forgot to add, his the biggest in the tank. the rest are around 8inch to 10 inch but his a gentle male ray doesnt bite any of the other rays in the tank.

thanks for the advise, will try that see how it goes.

 

[DB junkie]

my bad, forgot to add, his the biggest in the tank. the rest are around 8inch to 10 inch but his a gentle male ray doesnt bite any of the other rays in the tank.

thanks for the advise, will try that see how it goes.

I only tell you this cause I just went through the same thing..... My biggest female started acting funny and quit eating, but when divided off from the others began eating again after 2 days of darkness and being divided off from the others.... She developed a bacterial infection shortly after the loss of appetite.

Good luck to you....

 

[skynoch]

I'd have to agree with DB that it is stress related. Keep the tank covered for awhile to see if that helps. What is your nitrate just before you change water? When is the last time you cleaned your sump? Not sure what the flowrate is on an ehiem 1624 but maybe you don't have enough water change over.

 

[jwong1024]

I would do back to back 50% WC and increase filtration.