Hello everyone, I have two questions for all of you.
First of all, do any of you have any experience or knowledge about the "lesser electric ray" or "brazilian electric ray" (Narcine brasiliensis). I don't know why all my text is now in Italics; I can't fix it...
This place HAD them
http://www.saltwaterfishshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=170
and This place HAS them
http://www.gulfspecimen.org/catalog/specimens/fish/SharksRays.html
From what I've read about this particular ray it stays quite small (less than 2ft) which, in terms of size requirements, puts it in league with the freshwater rays. In fact, if some of the estimate are right (max size 45cm, depending on who you get your information from) it would be even smaller.
My primary questions would be how "hardy" these guys are compared to other elasmobranchs (and, for that matter, other SW fish), and whether or not the fact that the ray can electrocute you be of particular concern when you're trying to clean the tank?
Oh yeah, and that second website ONLY sells to legitimate institutions like aquariums or research facilities. THey don't sell to private aquarists, but I could try to pull an underhanded move and use my college as a proxy to get my hands on one.
OR I could ask these guys if they can get one:
www.sharksupply.com (as of right now 11:07pm [eastern time] November 18th 2009) they're having website issues so you probably won't be able to see anything.
THis is my second question: Do any of you guys know about or have any experience with doing business with these guys? They seem quite legitimate, but I've been fooled before (www.crayfishshop.com, which does not exist anymore). I saw their site a while ago and was interested in getting a clearnose skate from them, or I was teasing the idea but deep inside knew I had no possible way of taking care of one. They have a LOT of interesting things so I would like to do business with them at some point.
I kinda lied to you, I have a third quesiton. Do clearnose skates and lesser electric rays have similar requirements? (oh yeah, that site that only sells to institutions also has clearnose skates). Both species do stay reasonably small, and from what I can see they're also both tropical (no water chillers). Am I missing something though? Will these guys fight to the death or would it actually be manageable to keep them together?
Background information about me: I am a college student who is currently living in a small dorm (and it sucks). It will be at least 4 years before I can even consider looking after an animal that needs a large tank (even terrariums with large tropical pitcher plants in them...). I am asking you guys for answers 1. out of sheer curiosity and 2. for future reference. If keeping these animals does seem somewhat manageable then I'll save up for them intead of a big tegu or a crocodilian.
BTW I'm majoring in "aquatic and fisheries science", so I may end up buying some of these for research beforehand anyway. We'll see if I end up in graduate school or not
Thank you for your time.
First of all, do any of you have any experience or knowledge about the "lesser electric ray" or "brazilian electric ray" (Narcine brasiliensis). I don't know why all my text is now in Italics; I can't fix it...
This place HAD them
http://www.saltwaterfishshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=170
and This place HAS them
http://www.gulfspecimen.org/catalog/specimens/fish/SharksRays.html
From what I've read about this particular ray it stays quite small (less than 2ft) which, in terms of size requirements, puts it in league with the freshwater rays. In fact, if some of the estimate are right (max size 45cm, depending on who you get your information from) it would be even smaller.
My primary questions would be how "hardy" these guys are compared to other elasmobranchs (and, for that matter, other SW fish), and whether or not the fact that the ray can electrocute you be of particular concern when you're trying to clean the tank?
Oh yeah, and that second website ONLY sells to legitimate institutions like aquariums or research facilities. THey don't sell to private aquarists, but I could try to pull an underhanded move and use my college as a proxy to get my hands on one.
OR I could ask these guys if they can get one:
www.sharksupply.com (as of right now 11:07pm [eastern time] November 18th 2009) they're having website issues so you probably won't be able to see anything.
THis is my second question: Do any of you guys know about or have any experience with doing business with these guys? They seem quite legitimate, but I've been fooled before (www.crayfishshop.com, which does not exist anymore). I saw their site a while ago and was interested in getting a clearnose skate from them, or I was teasing the idea but deep inside knew I had no possible way of taking care of one. They have a LOT of interesting things so I would like to do business with them at some point.
I kinda lied to you, I have a third quesiton. Do clearnose skates and lesser electric rays have similar requirements? (oh yeah, that site that only sells to institutions also has clearnose skates). Both species do stay reasonably small, and from what I can see they're also both tropical (no water chillers). Am I missing something though? Will these guys fight to the death or would it actually be manageable to keep them together?
Background information about me: I am a college student who is currently living in a small dorm (and it sucks). It will be at least 4 years before I can even consider looking after an animal that needs a large tank (even terrariums with large tropical pitcher plants in them...). I am asking you guys for answers 1. out of sheer curiosity and 2. for future reference. If keeping these animals does seem somewhat manageable then I'll save up for them intead of a big tegu or a crocodilian.
BTW I'm majoring in "aquatic and fisheries science", so I may end up buying some of these for research beforehand anyway. We'll see if I end up in graduate school or not
Thank you for your time.
