Substrate for Rays

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

spryandspringy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 7, 2005
272
0
0
The Lone Star State!
Hello, fishy folks!

I'm finding comflicting or non-exisitent information on substrate for rays. Though it's obvious and easy to find the tip that the substrate needs to be soft and smooth, there's not a lot more on the subject out there. Here are a few questions that occured to me:

1. Is a bare aquarium bottom really better than any substrate for rays? Or do they prefer to be able to burrow?

2. If using sand, should it be a natural sand? Manufactured? What materials should be avoided?

3. What color is best for substrate with rays? Does this vary by species?

4. How deep should substrate be?

5. Are there substrate that assist in maintaining the correct pH for rays like there are for other species?

And also, a non-substrate question:

6. Are rays escape artists? Should a margin of air be kept between the water level and the top of the tank?

Thanks in advance to all for the answers to these questions. Books just don't ship fast enough to keep up with my questions. (I have a couple on order.) If you have any web sites to tide me over (pun intended) until they arrive, please let me know that as well.
 
spryandspringy said:
Hello, fishy folks!

I'm finding comflicting or non-exisitent information on substrate for rays. Though it's obvious and easy to find the tip that the substrate needs to be soft and smooth, there's not a lot more on the subject out there. Here are a few questions that occured to me:

1. Is a bare aquarium bottom really better than any substrate for rays? Or do they prefer to be able to burrow?
They prefer to be able to burrow themselves.

2. If using sand, should it be a natural sand? Manufactured? What materials should be avoided?
Natural would be ideal.

3. What color is best for substrate with rays? Does this vary by species?
The color that matches your ray best. However, it does not really matter.

4. How deep should substrate be?
At least 2 inches.

5. Are there substrate that assist in maintaining the correct pH for rays like there are for other species?
Yes, They are called Volcanic Gravel. & they come in 3 types. High PH, Neutral, & Low PH. However, its not really mend for rays as your water would be clouldy.

And also, a non-substrate question:

6. Are rays escape artists? Should a margin of air be kept between the water level and the top of the tank?
In an Open Lake/River.........YES!
Not necessary.

Thanks in advance to all for the answers to these questions. Books just don't ship fast enough to keep up with my questions. (I have a couple on order.) If you have any web sites to tide me over (pun intended) until they arrive, please let me know that as well.
Click to expand...

Sure hope that helps.
BTW, what ray are you planning to keep?
 
I'm working on getting the perfect habitat together first. That tends to be my modus operandi; I spend a lot of time getting the tank or pond together before I start seriously looking at individual specimens.

My tentative plan for this to set up a 55g I have coming in this week (it'll probably take me a month or two to get everything the way I want it) and get a small juvenille ray.

I have a new 100g planned for set up by the first quarter of 2006. I'd transfer the ray from the 55g to the 100g and then convert the 55g to African Cichlids by doing a good cleaning, and adding some rock and additives to the water in the 55g.

Then again, by the time I move the ray to the 100g, I may have a whole new plan for the 55g. You know how that goes. :rolleyes:
 
spryandspringy said:
I'm working on getting the perfect habitat together first. That tends to be my modus operandi; I spend a lot of time getting the tank or pond together before I start seriously looking at individual specimens.

My tentative plan for this to set up a 55g I have coming in this week (it'll probably take me a month or two to get everything the way I want it) and get a small juvenille ray.

I have a new 100g planned for set up by the first quarter of 2006. I'd transfer the ray from the 55g to the 100g and then convert the 55g to African Cichlids by doing a good cleaning, and adding some rock and additives to the water in the 55g.

Then again, by the time I move the ray to the 100g, I may have a whole new plan for the 55g. You know how that goes. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Very detailed planning.....
How many rays do you intent to house in your 100g tank???
 
I'd like to measure my success with one before I get another, but if all goes well I would consider two and see if I can get them to breed. I've had success in breeding a lot of species, but rays would definitely be something new. Then again, for two to be really happy, wouldn't I really need a larger set-up than 100g?
 
As for my plan for the 55g so far, I'm looking at "Tahitian Moon Sand" as a substrate. My initial research about the danger of in-tank heaters has me looking at the Tetratec systems and their large power filters with built in heaters. I'm also considering a variable powerhead to really keep things moving. I haven't read a lot about lighting yet. Any suggestions?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom