Rays in Texas

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turkeyboy85;3887015; said:
yes it makes alot of sense... there are how many lakes/ponds in cali/ florida where you can go and catch some chicla.... do you think they are natural there.... no! now imagine that with something that if you step on can cause paralisis if not treated properly... The law is there for a reason.. so people that dont fully understand what these fish need to survive dont get thier hands on them. Are there people in texas that have them.... of course there are, and im willing to bet those rays are some of the best kept rays in the hobby because of the fact that the people that have them had to go through lots of loops and know the dangers and know what they need to survive.

Just wanted to clarify there are NO ponds or lakes here in CA where cichla can survive......
 
robmcd;3887035; said:
Just wanted to clarify there are NO ponds or lakes here in CA where cichla can survive......

Maybe not year round but im sure there are some that they can for quite a long time.... i threw CA in there because i have heard of invasive species big time down there... Florida I know is worse then CA
 
turkeyboy85;3887076; said:
Maybe not year round but im sure there are some that they can for quite a long time.... i threw CA in there because i have heard of invasive species big time down there... Florida I know is worse then CA
For sure in FL but not at all here in CA. The only invasive cichlid that I know of is a couple types of tilapia and even that is only in select places where conditions are ideal year round. There are no cichla here at all. I heard of a rumor of them in a lake in San Diego county but it was just a rumor. It just gets too cold here in the winter months for any tropical fish to survive here year around. Rays included. Sorry for the de rail
 
You have clearly never been to Texas in Summer.

During winter months it is too cold for most rays, during summer all we have are mosquito breeding in pools of crap, mud and other undesirable things. I am in north Texas, when the mud pits we call lakes are down 10-20 feet good luck.

Florida has a problem, Louisiana could have a problem but they are legal there... Texas not likely.

That being said the law is the law, does not mean it is unquestionable and the attitude that everything done is for good reason is why things are allowed to get screwed up.

turkeyboy85;3887015; said:
yes it makes alot of sense... there are how many lakes/ponds in cali/ florida where you can go and catch some chicla.... do you think they are natural there.... no! now imagine that with something that if you step on can cause paralisis if not treated properly... The law is there for a reason.. so people that dont fully understand what these fish need to survive dont get thier hands on them. Are there people in texas that have them.... of course there are, and im willing to bet those rays are some of the best kept rays in the hobby because of the fact that the people that have them had to go through lots of loops and know the dangers and know what they need to survive.
 
In South Texas, there are plenty of places FW (Amazon basin) rays can live year round. Many people forget that the water they come from isn't the 84-85F range many keep them in. Most are found mid70s, and can go lower.
 
Last I checked they need water. It is not uncommon for the lakes in south Texas to all but dry up. Give the ray a few weeks in stagnant foul water.... we are not talking about one of the more hardy fish around.
 
The only fish that i know of that has been introduced in cali that has made it and actually has been breeding thriving is the striped bass and correct me if im wrong but it was itroduced by fish and game 20 plus years ago into the colorado river system and eats everything literally and being a native salwater fish that has adapted they darn near indistructable preditory machines that make cichla look like little fuzzy toys. there is no way a ray could make one season in any lake or stream in cali probly not even into fall the water is way to cold.50s and 60s in winter probly colder.Im sure there are other fish prbly some types of hardy ca or sa cichlids that have or could make it but chances are slim to none they could thrive other than coastal areas were temps are more moderete. possable areas might be back bays or lagunes Just maybe !!!!!!i dont know why they are illegal it is ridiculous. If you want something bad enough in this great country we are fortunate to live in we can get it !!!!!!!!!And WE do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!One more point that i think is valid .The cost of rays even in legal states would keep most people who woul maybe get one to not.There are and always will be dummys the few who wreck certain things for all!!!!Sorry for the derail!
 
biggin;3888770; said:
Last I checked they need water. It is not uncommon for the lakes in south Texas to all but dry up. Give the ray a few weeks in stagnant foul water.... we are not talking about one of the more hardy fish around.

I live three miles from the Mexico border we have many lakes that have water year round........we also have the Rio Grande, water year around.

We have some invasives here, a few cichlids, rays could live here. I have no doubt.

You northener Texans need to leave the south Texas observations to us, that live here.
 
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