Thinking of getting a Ray

[Hawkfish3.0]

From what I've read, a 6 x 2 footprint will last for a couple years or so with motoros. Of course, that depends on how big they are when you get them. Motoros get big, from what I've heard they get in the 36" disk range. I haven't seen anybody post with one larger than 20" disk on this forum. I've seen very large motoros in public aquariums though.

 

[pitbullfish]

 

[darcy12877]

I have a red retic that I got for $140. Its paired with a regular female retic. I have had them for over 1.5 years and were in the store I got them from for over 4 months. Yet they are still not completly matured :S theyre almost there though I hope to get pups from them within a year.

 

[Nic]

I love stingrays and would love to have one so i have a few questions


First i'm hopefully going to get a 180 gallon tank 6'x2'x2' i've looked into it and it seems to be a big enough tank to house one for a while but most likely not for life am i right

I've looked into species of rays and it seems that the smallest are scobina and retics but it seems that scobina are pretty rare ? and what do they look like , retics seems to be pretty common but aren't as hardy as scobina right ? and next would be motoro which are pretty hardy from what i've read and are good bigginer rays but how big to motoros get ?

Last is there any thing i need to know about rays before keeping one it seems that the main thing is that rays get large and are a huge Boi load on the tank also the tank heater needs to be covered so they don't burn themselfs any thing else thats important that i need to know ?

6x2x2 180 gallon is great starter tank.... motoros best starter ray but will get huge... 180 will last you a couple years....scobina are impossible to get basically..... ray do produce a large bio load so filter tank accordingly basically over filter the tank... i have never used heater guards and dont find them necessary but this is debatable i use stealth heaters hung vertical on the back of my tank towards the top....

Go buy "Freshwater Stingrays" by Dr. Richard Ross. Very cheap and lots of info! Its about $6 used on Amazon!

^ what he said

The best advice I can offer to you will be the same advie every additional poster will say:

Read the articles in the Stingray section of Bottom Dwellers.
Conduct more searches in the forums for Stingrays species and their respective compatabilities.
Conduct more searches for the various hardiness of each species.

You will see that Stingray are exceptionally beautifull but demanding. Do not be imtimidated by them. You can be a successful keeper.......just take your time and research a little more here on this site.
Respectfully, FireMedic.

and what he said....

they are amazing fish if you have the time....

 

[killerfish]

I like the looks or those red retics will have to look for them when i get my tank up and if i decide to go for rays

Also i've read they are sensitive to change in PH and some people have said they are sensitive to nitrates and nitrites is this true no matter what fish i know its good to keep nitrates and nitrites down but are they as sensitive as say puffers ?

I'll look for that book can never have to many fish books for reference

 

[andersp90]

I have a red retic that I got for $140. Its paired with a regular female retic. I have had them for over 1.5 years and were in the store I got them from for over 4 months. Yet they are still not completly matured :S theyre almost there though I hope to get pups from them within a year.

How big is the male and female..?