tank size effects growth

[rook45]

We might not know as much about genetics as we thought.. some humans are shorter, some taller.. max size within a specific species could be greatly varied.. could be mixed with another species and not show the pattern.. ?

but 13" in comparison to BigMama at 32" is a tough cookie to swallow..then again BigMama could be like the Shaq of Leopoldi and your little one could be the Spud Webb..?

We will see how it grows out, eh?

I've been telling people this for a while now...That growth will vary depending on individual specimens. It's irrational to think max size won't vary.

 

[SovietFireExtinguisher]

Very interesting thread. I wonder if the variation in size could really be that large. Sort of like the size variations in Boston Terriers.

 

[African_Fever]

There's an LFS nearby that has a male leo for I'm sure at least 5 years, and I doubt it's over 14" and no-where near being sexually mature.

 

[Knowdafish]

Water quality is just as important as tank size for max growth!

 

[Nic]

very tired and cant read this all but i can say that store by me had a motoro brought in @ 6" 3 years ago and the ray is pushing maybe 10" if that... its fed once a day and a small meal at that... so if they did the same with the leo then its reall possible...

 

[ronin_man]

dont they NEED to eat more than one small meal a day ?
i thought there metabolism was pumped up and they couldnt survive just eating one small thing each day, althought it was probably pretty skinny

 

[turkeyboy85]

dont they NEED to eat more than one small meal a day ?
i thought there metabolism was pumped up and they couldnt survive just eating one small thing each day, althought it was probably pretty skinny

yes and no... we raise temp to increase the metabolism to keep them healthy. Healthy Rays can go a month without food.... not on a regular basis but....

 

[turkeyboy85]

Water quality is just as important as tank size for max growth!

This store kept thier water perfect and they really knew thier stuff, a highly recomended store for any pet

 

[Big Daves Rays]

Also, rays dont need as much food as people like to think. Most fish will eat like pigs if you let them. Just look at discus when you feed them beefheart. They dont grow/eat like that in nature!

Rays only grow super fast cos people powerfeed them!

I agree. I don't feed a ton of food myself. Just enough to satisfy them, not get them bulging huge every day, and everyone seems to be doing well.

 

[andersp90]

dont they NEED to eat more than one small meal a day ?
i thought there metabolism was pumped up and they couldnt survive just eating one small thing each day, althought it was probably pretty skinny

I dont think its any higher than in any other fish.
Also, i know that everyone is talking about rays, high temp and a fast meabolism.
But i think that most people forget that rays are cold blooded. So they dont create their own body heat. So when we raise the temp they need less energy to survive. Thats also why they can become inactive at high temps. Simply because they need less food to stay alive.

I keep my own rays at 82.2-84.2 F. Simpley because they need less food at this temp.
The 4 motoros at my LFS are in the tank with 30-40 discus. So the temp is at a constant 86 F. So thats why they need so little food to stay alive and still grow.
So if you want to keep your rays small, raise the temp and feed less.

I agree. I don't feed a ton of food myself. Just enough to satisfy them, not get them bulging huge every day, and everyone seems to be doing well.

Yep.

The same thing im seeing with my rays. Im getting a good growth with less food than normal.