Sexing Flower Ray
- Thread starter CANAMONSTER
- Start date
Flowers and tigers have claspers about half the size of leo or motoro type rays most people are used to. Flowers and tigers are pretty much the same thing but different pattern. They are both next to impossible to keep
It's more difficult to tell on flowers when they are small pups. I've had black rays that we thought were females end up being males. Well I can thank blkpirana for that one.
if you see the underside of a pup you can tell immediately. Males have what looks like 2 rice looking claspers near the butt. Females have nothing.
Problem with Flowers if they are all W/C and at the exporter if they even try to sex them they are doing so looking from the top down because of their tank setups. You cannot tell the sex of a young ray that way so you pretty much will get what you get.
I have to completely disagree on two counts here Matt. Number one Flowers in most cases can be converted from earthworms(night crawlers) onto alternatives such as Prawns, Mussel and Whitebait, I have even had one that took Hikari Carnivore pellets. Tigers on the other hand are in my experience impossible to get off the earthworms, sure they will take live fishes but all rays will. Secondly I have kept one for over 2 years before selling it on because it fed too aggressively, biting the other rays at meal times , I have also sold several to one guy from the shop which he has had for 7-8 years so far with no issues, I have currently got two in the shop which are going to a friend that already has one, again he hasn't had any problems. I keep hearing this myth about them being difficult to keep so thought it was time to speak out, never have I ever lost one in my care, sure they need worming on arrival from Colombia and in many cases are slow to feed but once they settle..BOY! do they feed!
Its worth pointing out that this species scientific name Potamotrygon schroederi isn't for everyone due to its eventual size but for me it is one of the most beautiful rays to keep if you can accommodate it.
What I do agree is that both Flowers and Tigers have striking simularities, so much so I think they should be removed from Potamotrygon and placed in their own genus, I definitely think this will happen....watch this space!
Thanks guys for the input. I think they are absolutely stunning.aquaman45 so what's your opinion on a 7 inch flower for sexing?
Because this is ultimately a large species the claspers remain smaller on the males for longer. All rays are sexually dimorphic from birth, you just have to look that much closer with Flowers as the tiny claspers get lost in the folds of the pelvic fins.....I can assure you they are there though.Thanks guys for the input. I think they are absolutely stunning.