Stingray addition and tank mates - what to expect

[SaltyPlum]

Its been a long time waiting but i finally got a stingray and I'm over the moon about it. I had a 12" jag, 8" texas and a 9" PB before getting the ray. I decided to keep the PB as a tank mate knowing it would be a risk keeping the jag and texas with a ray. However, its been 2 days now and my PB seems stressed not eating and always hanging out at the same end of the tank. Its usally a pig when its feeding time and the first one to go for the food, so much that he normally splashes water everywhere.

My question is will he settle over time, or should i do something now?

 

[spotfin]

What size tank and what type of ray? Perhaps the ray is stressing the pb?

 

[SaltyPlum]

Tank is 6x2.5x2 and its a motoro x leo ray. I feel the ray is stressing the PB as well. Do you think if I get another tank mate it will help settle the PB?

 

[Deadliestviper7]

I would move the pb if possible

 

[SaltyPlum]

I dont have any spare tanks to put him in. The PB just hangs out in the same spot and hardly ever moves, which is not normal behavior and I notice earlier today when the ray got to close to the PB while in his preferred spot the PB had ago at the rays tail.

Im picking up a 20cm leichardti saratoga next week. Hopefully having another tank mate swimming around will make him less stressed

 

[JK47]

I dont have any spare tanks to put him in. The PB just hangs out in the same spot and hardly ever moves, which is not normal behavior and I notice earlier today when the ray got to close to the PB while in his preferred spot the PB had ago at the rays tail.

Im picking up a 20cm leichardti saratoga next week. Hopefully having another tank mate swimming around will make him less stressed

How big is the ray? How big is the cichla? Both of these being key pieces of information. I would be concerned with adding a leichardti until the cichla has calmed down. If there are not physical marks or any damage on the cichla then it may just take some time to sort out the pecking order or for your cichla to realize the ray is not a threat. Give it another week before deciding what to do IMO. If there are marks move it now. Motoro can be rough rays on tankmates.

Rays, cichla and some earth eaters participate in a behavior called nuclear followers association. This means that the cichla as well as earth eaters should naturally be drawn to rays a a potential food source (from digging in the sand not the cichla being a food source for the ray). I think you are fine unless the sizes of either animal prohibit this from happening.

 

[SaltyPlum]

How big is the ray? How big is the cichla? Both of these being key pieces of information. I would be concerned with adding a leichardti until the cichla has calmed down. If there are not physical marks or any damage on the cichla then it may just take some time to sort out the pecking order or for your cichla to realize the ray is not a threat. Give it another week before deciding what to do IMO. If there are marks move it now. Motoro can be rough rays on tankmates.

Rays, cichla and some earth eaters participate in a behavior called nuclear followers association. This means that the cichla as well as earth eaters should naturally be drawn to rays a a potential food source (from digging in the sand not the cichla being a food source for the ray). I think you are fine unless the sizes of either animal prohibit this from happening.

PB is around 9" and the ray would be around 8" in diameter. There are no marks on the PB and haven't seen any foul play between the two, only that one time the PB had a snap at the ray for getting to close. Before the ray i had a big 12/13" male Jag and a 9"male texas (was a nut case) and they all got on fine, so i am a bit surprised to see the PB stressed with the ray. However, i guess it would be strange to the PB as the ray is something completely different to what its use to.

I think your right with just giving the PB a bit more time to get use to the change. Today he is looking better and just ate some food which is a good sign.