Teeth in my black sand

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B_IN_SD

B_IN_SD

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jul 12, 2006
1,171
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Sturgis S.D.
I had been thinking the white specks in my black sand were scale from my holding tubs. The other day I sorted out a few of the specks and they look like teeth that have been shed. Does any one have a easy method of sorting them out ? They are about the same grain size as the sand.
 
They look like teeth to me and one of my ray books says they shed them. Very small but visible in the black sand. It took an hour to fill a small vial 1/4" deep with them.
 
Wow! never knew that. Guess they won't do any harm though. I would not want the task of trying to pick them out of the sand!!
 
Are they possibly broken up barbs? They usually wear away when left in the tank for a while or a long time. Could look like teeth. Just thinking what else it might be.

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I do find ray's teeth as well in my tank. My tanks are all bare bottom and I find them here and there. All have same consistency as far as size and color. It puzzled me for the longest time, until I saw one of my ray's mouth up close.
 
FW ray teeth look similar to these (this is an Atlantic ray). They are VERY small/fine and yes you can find them if you look through the substrate. As for pulling them out of the sand, tweezers are your best bet. It's not a fun project.

dentition.JPG
 
Wow this is a new one for me to we learn something new everyday

It's probably true but we don't spot them on natural coloured sand but they would stand out more on black sand

Could this be another reason as to why not to keep rays in bare tanks as they wouldn't grind them down as often as they would sifting throw sand

Makes me wonder if the black sand was so sharp it was grinding down the teeth to fast that's why you are seeing bigger chunks of teeth or is my substrate built up with loads of tooth dust

Interesting topic

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Interesting. I have a bare bottom tank painted black. I see these white things from time to time. I thought it was the tiny spikes on their tail getting old and falling off. I'll pay closer attention next time I see them and scoop some out.


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