Hello,
I have been keeping fish for more than 30y. (most of the time reef tanks), but only now am considering my first ray: a specific marbled motoro male
A good friend of mine imported a few marbled motoros some months ago and one particular male has caught his (and, now, mine) attention.
It has no more than 20-22cms (8-9") and has (apparently) fully developed claspers. Maybe 1,5" in size. These claspers are ~4 or 5 times the ones of another marbled male that came in the same import with the same (or even slightly bigger) disc size. Furthemore, they´re both eating very well but only the other male has grown in these months (he is now around 11" or even maybe 12").
I´ve been reading (mostly here) 3 diff possible reasons for the fact some marbled males never grow more to be more that 12-13": (i) like happens with all animals some are small others normals, others "giants"; (ii) they´re just stunted; (iii) that there may be smaller sized marble motoros (a different "breed").
Without geeting too much in that issue and theories, my question has to do with the relation between maturity and growth: is it (more) likely that this ray has most of his growth done, since it is mature? or is it possible that although mature, it still has a lot of growth ahead?
I ask this because I don´t have a big tank available for it and cannot upgrade unless I move (my apartment floor might not handle another "big" tank..). I´ll put it in a 5x2x2 with a "rescue" asian arowana (and pleco that may be moved to another tank) as occupant. If it stays on the (very) small size, and although that tank is far from optimal, I believe it may be enough (assuming I will take care of all husbandry aspects, with more WC to compensate).
Please note, that if the male starts - somehow - to have "normal" development and growing like motoros should, I will not keep it.
I have agreed with my friend that under those circumstances I will return (resale) the animal and he will gladly receive it back. Otherways I would not consider taking it (nor would my friend consider passing it to me).
But I am very curious regarding this aspect.
Your opinions, please.
Thanks in advance
I have been keeping fish for more than 30y. (most of the time reef tanks), but only now am considering my first ray: a specific marbled motoro male
A good friend of mine imported a few marbled motoros some months ago and one particular male has caught his (and, now, mine) attention.
It has no more than 20-22cms (8-9") and has (apparently) fully developed claspers. Maybe 1,5" in size. These claspers are ~4 or 5 times the ones of another marbled male that came in the same import with the same (or even slightly bigger) disc size. Furthemore, they´re both eating very well but only the other male has grown in these months (he is now around 11" or even maybe 12").
I´ve been reading (mostly here) 3 diff possible reasons for the fact some marbled males never grow more to be more that 12-13": (i) like happens with all animals some are small others normals, others "giants"; (ii) they´re just stunted; (iii) that there may be smaller sized marble motoros (a different "breed").
Without geeting too much in that issue and theories, my question has to do with the relation between maturity and growth: is it (more) likely that this ray has most of his growth done, since it is mature? or is it possible that although mature, it still has a lot of growth ahead?
I ask this because I don´t have a big tank available for it and cannot upgrade unless I move (my apartment floor might not handle another "big" tank..). I´ll put it in a 5x2x2 with a "rescue" asian arowana (and pleco that may be moved to another tank) as occupant. If it stays on the (very) small size, and although that tank is far from optimal, I believe it may be enough (assuming I will take care of all husbandry aspects, with more WC to compensate).
Please note, that if the male starts - somehow - to have "normal" development and growing like motoros should, I will not keep it.
I have agreed with my friend that under those circumstances I will return (resale) the animal and he will gladly receive it back. Otherways I would not consider taking it (nor would my friend consider passing it to me).
But I am very curious regarding this aspect.
Your opinions, please.
Thanks in advance
