Rays on a budget- My (somewhat long) story w/pics
- Thread starter Clearwater guy
- Start date
Ok, I think I failed at sexing them, although I did notice a difference in many of them. But what I'm looking at is just as easy to see with them in the tank...2 dimensional drawings just weren't helpful though when I moved them out of QT. Maybe they need to get a bit bigger?
But what I see, is a pointy protrusion behind the anus on some of them that can be seen through the glass. I "thought" that this was the female oviduct, am I right? Don't the males have just a 2nd hole with no pointy thing?
Thanks,
Mike
But what I see, is a pointy protrusion behind the anus on some of them that can be seen through the glass. I "thought" that this was the female oviduct, am I right? Don't the males have just a 2nd hole with no pointy thing?
Thanks,
Mike
thank you for the idea you just gave me the perfect way to keep from having to spend a million bucks for a tank big enough for my titan trigger. i am going to take the back panel off my 150 high cut it to fit and put it on the top and do the same to my 90 that i was planning on using for a sump that way i wont have to make my stand as high and it will give my eels more of a floor plan in the 90. thanks
Ok, just a quick update, I'll have some more pictures soon...
There were 2-3 Blue Tilapia that died in the first day in QT. They were very unhealthy as I had stated. I have now brought all but one out of QT, and I can't bring myself to dispose of him. I looked every one of them over very carefully for bumps, and any other type of health issues, and this one had a lump in his cheek that looks like a parasite in there of some sort, and he's also got a bad eye. so he stayed behind while the rest of them make the cut to the 150. But first I had to chase down all the White Tilapia fry and get them into a 10g that I was able to pick up. There's about 70 fry left it looks like, and they are very healthy. Still feeding them 6-8 times per day.
The Blue Tilapia are noticeably larger already. They eat like crazy. No matter how many times I go down there, they still wait at the surface and stare at me for a food toss.
I'm working out some details on a couple more rays that are a little different than what I had ordered. Details to come when it's finalized. I'll just say that I'm going to be making a great advancement.
I think momma Motoro #1 is going to birth by the end of the month. Momma Motoro #2 is probably 2 months from birth, but I'm sure now that she is carrying. Still too early to tell on the other 2 females, but they have both been torn up for a few days by my male, and then left alone. I wasn't able to catch them in the act...but I suspect he got what he was after.
I'll get more pics up of the Tilapia soon, their color is coming back now after I handled them all. I have this feeling today like I should do cartwheels across the room, but I'm trying not to get too excited about that which has not happened yet. So I'll just have a couple more cups of coffee to settle my nerves...LOL.
Thanks for following!
Mike
There were 2-3 Blue Tilapia that died in the first day in QT. They were very unhealthy as I had stated. I have now brought all but one out of QT, and I can't bring myself to dispose of him. I looked every one of them over very carefully for bumps, and any other type of health issues, and this one had a lump in his cheek that looks like a parasite in there of some sort, and he's also got a bad eye. so he stayed behind while the rest of them make the cut to the 150. But first I had to chase down all the White Tilapia fry and get them into a 10g that I was able to pick up. There's about 70 fry left it looks like, and they are very healthy. Still feeding them 6-8 times per day.
The Blue Tilapia are noticeably larger already. They eat like crazy. No matter how many times I go down there, they still wait at the surface and stare at me for a food toss.
I'm working out some details on a couple more rays that are a little different than what I had ordered. Details to come when it's finalized. I'll just say that I'm going to be making a great advancement.
I think momma Motoro #1 is going to birth by the end of the month. Momma Motoro #2 is probably 2 months from birth, but I'm sure now that she is carrying. Still too early to tell on the other 2 females, but they have both been torn up for a few days by my male, and then left alone. I wasn't able to catch them in the act...but I suspect he got what he was after.
I'll get more pics up of the Tilapia soon, their color is coming back now after I handled them all. I have this feeling today like I should do cartwheels across the room, but I'm trying not to get too excited about that which has not happened yet. So I'll just have a couple more cups of coffee to settle my nerves...LOL.
Thanks for following!
Mike
Ok, I hadn't mentioned this, but I've been considering a 3rd species to make this even more efficient. I was looking for something that was not only useful as ray food or people food (Like the Tilapia), but that would also be a scavenger of all the uneated food particles that the rays leave behind. After considering many options, I "think" I want to try FW prawns.
I can't do this right away, but basically I'll have the ray tanks drain into the Prawn tank, and then into the sump. So, if it works the way I have in mind, the Prawns will be a pre-filter and they'll eat for free and take some of the burden off of me dumping out the net pre-filter every day.
Any thoughts? Any other species ideas?
Seems like a neat thing to play with if nothing else...but I have other things ahead of it on the to-do list. So I have plenty of time to plan it out and gather info. Even if I don't want to mess with breeding them myself, I can get post-larvae for $85/thousand... It is the Larval stage that seems to be more complicated, but if I can manage the time/chore schedule, I'll figure it out.
Mike
I can't do this right away, but basically I'll have the ray tanks drain into the Prawn tank, and then into the sump. So, if it works the way I have in mind, the Prawns will be a pre-filter and they'll eat for free and take some of the burden off of me dumping out the net pre-filter every day.
Any thoughts? Any other species ideas?
Seems like a neat thing to play with if nothing else...but I have other things ahead of it on the to-do list. So I have plenty of time to plan it out and gather info. Even if I don't want to mess with breeding them myself, I can get post-larvae for $85/thousand... It is the Larval stage that seems to be more complicated, but if I can manage the time/chore schedule, I'll figure it out.
Mike
In a matter of a few hours, this due smooth talked his way into a nest. I swear I hear Barry White down there earlier, but this took me by surprise. I thought I needed to get them set up with clay pots first, but they're just right there in the open, and the male chases everything off that he has to...The other fish just seem to stay away.
Now, I know everyone thinks their kids look good...but I think these have nice colors, and I think they deserve more recognition as more than just a food fish. I cannot wait to see the white ones grow up. some of them are getting little stripes, and others are almost platinum.
The first pic here is the male, he's got a nice rosy color. The second pic is the female, she's a little more blue. Then a few of them together doin what fish couples do.
Now, I know everyone thinks their kids look good...but I think these have nice colors, and I think they deserve more recognition as more than just a food fish. I cannot wait to see the white ones grow up. some of them are getting little stripes, and others are almost platinum.
The first pic here is the male, he's got a nice rosy color. The second pic is the female, she's a little more blue. Then a few of them together doin what fish couples do.
Amazing job! Seriously!
I've been wanting to start a ray breeding business for a couple years now, and you are one heck of an inspiration!
Wish you all the luck in the world
<3
I've been wanting to start a ray breeding business for a couple years now, and you are one heck of an inspiration!
Wish you all the luck in the world
<3
