The good and bad of rays

[Copeina]

Weekly 50% water changes and twice weekly filter floss changes keeps it tolerable. I have a small fish room, and if I don't keep on top of it, the whole house smells. I did install an exhaust fan which helps keep it in the room.

The type of food affects it also - worms smells a lot less than shrimp, but I can't (reliably) get worms from November - May, and the windows are closed up tight during winter as well.

Like you say, probably no worse than a big predator tank, but worth mentioning. Small tanks can smell too, the source is just a lot smaller.

/Kris

Hi Kris, I have never had that odor issue with rays before . The tank
smells no more than a usual big predatory fish tank. The filter floss in the wet/dry, now that stinks.

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

Rays have so much personality and I love watching them swim/play.

Ummm...im surprised nobodies mentioned the fact that you could also get STUNG!

Get "Freshwater Stingrays by Dr. Richard Ross" before doing anything else. Its the stingray owners bible! GL and keep us updated!

 

[redtailfool]

Rays have so much personality and I love watching them swim/play.

Ummm...im surprised nobodies mentioned the fact that you could also get STUNG!

Get "Freshwater Stingrays by Dr. Richard Ross" before doing anything else. Its the stingray owners bible! GL and keep us updated!

I was gonna say that earlier... Another pros about rays is that they are very intelligent animals. Even more so than cichlids.

 

[hollywood69]

yea, once you go ray, you'll never go back!!!

buy a big tank at least 24" wide!!! at least 180 gal! buy the biggest you can afford. invest in filtration!!! i've had my 2 retics for 5-6 years, i started out changing 1x a month, then i went to 1x every 2 weeks, but they can go beyond a month! i have great filtration and have owned them long enough to know.

you must have a constant ph my ph is under 6.2- 6.5, rarely above 6.5.
BUY FROM A REPUTIBLE DEALER!! i think the key to my rays and when i was a true slacker and rarely water changed, fed 1x every other day. was the fact that the dealer had a great supplier! my rays are hardy like goldfish!!! that's saying a lot for retics who are very finicky! also you can wow your guests!! not many can say they own stingrays!!

 

[KJP]

Rays have so much personality and I love watching them swim/play.

Ummm...im surprised nobodies mentioned the fact that you could also get STUNG!

Get "Freshwater Stingrays by Dr. Richard Ross" before doing anything else. Its the stingray owners bible! GL and keep us updated!

Hand feeding is another plus.

 

[AquataHolic420]

Its always good ot have people come over the house that arent into the fishkeeping hobby, and they see my ray. "Stingrays can live in freshwater" they always say... Theyre friggan awesome!! BUT RESEARCH, and get a big tank! Im kickin myself in the ass for only getting a 90, and not going bigger!

Really old picture!

 

[Nic]

motoros are what I would recommend when you are ready and buy your tank or ideally pond once don't do a 180 then upgrade if you can afford it then I would say get a 450 6x4 perfect for a couple rays

 

[angeladay]

It was pain in the butt feeding them because I had to use pvc pipes to cater food in front of their nose. If you keep them with aggressive eaters (I had arowanas with motoros), feeding will be a challenge.

 

[AquataHolic420]

If youre a beginner i would obviously recommend Researching thoroughly, but thats what you are doing if you are on her asking questions. GOOD JOB. but after that, i would go and get a teacup ray at any LFS(RETICULATA). they are from 39$-50$ each around me. They are cheap, so it is good to get one of these when you are a beginner in case the store sells u a sick ray, or one that wont eat. (typically no guarentee on LFS rays)

Use sand, not gravel, or even just go bare bottom. I would have the ray the first fish in the tank(make sure its cycled) so it can gain confidence and claim its territories.

water should be above 80 degrees F all times.. 84 works.

MAKE SURE IF U GET A RAY AT A LFS THEY GET IT TO EAT IN FRONT OF YOU. If you see one munching heavily in a tank, pick that one!!

 

[shookONES]

Do not get a "teacup" ray as a starter ray. First off, the general rule of thumb is the smaller the ray, the more difficult they are to keep. P.Motoro are very easy to keep and that's what I would recommend. They adapt well to new tanks, are fairly easy to get onto prepared foods, and display the characteristic awesomeness that make people go crazy for rays.