'Teacup' Ray is a term for an under-sized ray, that was incorrectly packaged to fit more per box, to bring down the per unit price.. This is so wholesalers and retails could make more money, off unhealthy fish!
The incorrect packaging overcrowds them in the box, and gives more chance for ammonia burn and/or permanant damage to the internal organs. This is all accredited to lack of water volume in the bag, creating a higher concentration of harmful Ammonia because the rays were overcrowded during shipping.
Teacups rays are also very vulnerable to disease and parasites, and need heavy feedings two or three times a day. A 4"-5" ray is just an infant in the ray world, and does not handle any type of neglect or stress very well. Of course, they may survive for a few weeks and transports, but longterm captivity is highly unlikely if improperly cared for from day 1.
Teacups rays do not handle the 1-3 days of 'purging' before they are shipped, and will stress out from the lack of food (or none at all) from the time they are farmed from the river, transported, exported, imported, and wholesaled. On the other hand, some Importers/Exporters might take the time to feed them properly, but fail to 'purge' them a day or two before shipment, causing them to deficate in their own bags, causing permenant ammonia burn damage or death.
They are often sold as very skinny rays, with very little hope for the future, in which only an experienced ray keeper can 'nurse' them back to full health. Even the best ray keepers have problems nursing a young skinny ray back to health, because at that point it is often too late.
Most of the time, these teacups rays are only being sold by retailers and wholesalers to make a quick dollar, so with that comes a wealth of mis-information in order to trick the buyer into thinking they are making an informed decision. 125g tank is not good for the life of any stingray, even the smallest species. Majority of irresposible stingray vendors will tell you the contrary, in order to make the sale.
They are neglected and mis-cared for in the majority of wholesalers/importers across the US, which results in these 'mysterious' deaths that are often blamed on the caretaker, not the Importer/Exporter.
I would have to say the 'mysterious ray death' syndrome is completely accredited to the exporter and importer, as the care that the stingrays recieve at this time is the most crucial and neglect can cause long-term unforseen internal damage or parasitic invasion.
So... Next time you are getting a 'killer deal' from a wholesaler on the internet selling 4"-5" stingrays and only using blurry photos that hide the dents in the head and skinny hips, THINK TWICE.
IMO, For the reasons stated above..
TEACUP RAYS SHOULD NOT BE IMPORTED.
That is all..
