retics

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
ceeej31

ceeej31

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Feb 13, 2008
4,259
17
68
33
New England
i pretty much have my mind set on a motoro, but i am curious about retics
some one told me that they are difficult to care for, what makes them difficult?
also whats there minimum tank size?, how big do they get?, what are good tankmates?
 
I believe the main difficulty with retics is getting them to eat, and their general pickyness on food items. Once that's passed, it's "easy" sailing.

Can't help you with the other questions tho. Someone else will surely chime in :)
 
so it getting them to eat?
because a nearby lfs has one feeding on clams:D, how hard would it be to get it to eat stuff like market shrimp and pieces of raw fish?
 
Its not just getting them to eat. They are far more sensitive over all. My first two rays were a retic and motoro both around 6". I had had the retic for about four months. He was fat, healthy, and ate everything! The motoro I had just rescued from a LFS. She was kept with very large african clawed frogs and jack dempsies so she was all beat up and unbelieveably skinny.

Well after about a week with the motoro she was doing better but far from being 'out of the woods.' I did my usual water change and noticed about an hour or two later my retic was acting funny. I tested the water and had an ammonia reading of about 1ppm. The retic was dead in 24hours and the motoro was never phased. Remember now the retic was healthy while the motoro was still trying to gain weight and regenerate her disk. The ammonia spike was from my tap. Because of this I think retics are more sensitive then other rays like motoros.

Now not all will agree with me but IME they are.
 
Now maybe I am just in the minority here but I have 2 baby retics 1 6" and 1 8" as these were my first rays I am by no means a ray expert I have had them both since october. They have never had issues with eating or with water changes they eat earth worms, krill, silversides, black worms, and massivore pellets. Each time I have introduced them to a new food I just toss it in the tank and they pounce on it. I do a 50% water change every 4 days and so far (knock on wood) they have been as healthy and happy as can be. I have them currently in a 125 with quite a few tank mates and we have had no issues. They only thing I do make sure to do is I feed them individually so I make sure they get all their food before the other fishes. I have a 380 gallon currently being made. Hope this helps some.
 
I think anybody on here will tell you all rays for a minimum tank size would be a 180gal. I knew my tank would be temporary so I went ahead and got them I am just on top of my water changes. Should have my new 300+ set up with the next 2 months.
 
Its not that I wouldnt recommend one, Im just saying they are a bit more sensitve. I mean, in my case I have a healthy retic kick the bucket from a minor ammonia spike while a less then healthy motoro was never phased!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom