Rays with Cichilds?

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Batboi3000

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 30, 2009
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So I'm a total noob when it comes to rays. I don't know much about them, other than they are cool looking, and one killed my hero, Steve Erwin. RIP Steve. I have a 125 gallon aquarium which i understand is too small for most rays as I know some get 24" in diameter. I will be moving in May and will need to get rid of all my current fish. The move it too great to bother trying to move the fish, so I will be starting from scratch. I really love the bigger CA/SA cichlids and would really like to keep doing cichlids. However I would like to add a new something something that I've never done before to the mix like a ray or two or a different type of bigger catfish with a couple cichlids. So here are my questions.

Is this possible?
What species of ray would work in a tank this size?
What species of CA/SA cichlids would work with rays? If any?

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
 
from what i have read on here, cichlids and rays do not mix. i have seen it done in some cases. but for me i wouldnt trust puttin a large aggresive cichlid in with a ray. especially when the ray cost 2 to 3 times more than the cichlid. the only way i have seen it done is when the tank was overstocked, which in a 125 gallon that will be hard to do with large sa/ca cichlids.
 
cichlids and rays bad mix i had a severum start picking on one of my rays so my jd started and my oscars picked on it...before i could get rid of them they killed the ray...in less then 6hrs i had lossed a ray and about killed a few cichlids in anger...the ray was moved after the agresstion but it was to late...the ray lived for a few more days, but didn't eat and died...

a 125gal doesn't have the width to really keep any rays for life....it could keep some for a while, but in the end you will need a bigger tank...
 
My old set up....it worked.

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I've had plenty of cichlids with my rays, and only 1 has ever even shown the slightest of interest in them (other than to steal an earthworm from them every now and then).

I've had:
Peacock bass
Geo. brasiliensis
Ast. altifrons
Green Severum
Various pike cichlids
Angelfish
Rainbow cichlid
Green Terrors (under 4")
Leopard Ctenopoma

Maybe I've been lucky with my combination's, but like I said, most of my fish simply ignore the rays, except for when I'm dropping earthworms in the tank. Then they're mostly just interested in the earthworms.
 
There is already some sound advice posted so I won't repeat it.

I would like to add to the thoughts:

Cichlids and Rays can and do tolerate widely diffent waters parameters. I would like to believe, that if you are careful about what Cichlids and what parameters you maintain, it wouold work.

One additional thought, a Ray can be capable of consuming a Cichlid if the Ray is big enough and the Cichlid is small enough.

Good Luck, post pictures.

Respectfully,
FireMedic.
 
It totally depends on the cichlid and stingray, some cichlids just ignore them, most of the time because the tank is so large. Also if the cichlid is too small the stingray could actually catch it and eat it, so its a gamble either way.
 
FireMedic;3915130; said:
One additional thought, a Ray can be capable of consuming a Cichlid if the Ray is big enough and the Cichlid is small enough.

Respectfully,
FireMedic.
Click to expand...

I should have mentioned, in regards to the angelfish and several of the geo's, that I believe my 7" female motoro was responsible for the deaths of 7 angelfish ranging in size from 2" to 6", and 2 geo's from 3" to 4".

So I think the ray was more of an aggressor in my tank than any of the cichlids were...
 
Thanks for the advice. Again, I just want to try something a little different and I like those big goofy ancient fish like knives, arrows, and rays. I was thinking for cichlids something along the line of oscars, jack dempseys, maybe a jag. I want to get a good couple fish that will get big and coexist. Feel free to drop any more thoughts.
 
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