views on hand feeding?

[turkeyboy85]

I just wanted to figure out what everyone's views are, right now i am hand feeding my newly aquired ray, my gf told me to pet him after i had done it and i told her that was crossing the line in my book, In my mind as long as the fish feels comfortable i am ok with doing it but you still need to remember that it is a wild animal

 

[Nic]

I have hand fed my rays I do it @ the top of the tank and my old big female marbled I did pet a few times....

 

[darcy12877]

Thats the only way I feed my rays. I can even pic them up and pet them. But for the first few months i just slowly let them get used to my hand and slowly crept closer every week. They are very friendly and have never made any attempt to hurt me, they just almost pounce on my hand and take the food. Also alot of ray keepers discurage this but I think it just puts alot more excitment into keeping my rays, I love 'em to death.

 

[Onion01]

what is wrong with hand feeding rays? Or any other fish? I think it makes them more comfortable with you being around (duh), and helps them live an more unstressed life in an artificial enclosure. Think about wild animals like those orcas at sea world!

 

[Nic]

see that is really risky easy for you to get stung i pet at top of tank tail is away under glass

 

[jdepasqu2]

doing at the top of the tank like Nic said is the safest way to start out doing it. thy will get use to the feel of your skin and stuff....., then you can move to the bottom when they comfortable with you.... -my 2cents-

 

[smurph1415]

i think just not to much or else u'll stress them out

 

[StingrayFanatic]

imo hand feeding your rays is one of the coolest things

I agree.

 

[Nic]

it is but you do have to be carefull

 

[csx4236]

I will only hand feed if the rays come up the side of the tank, I have seen someone get stung trying to hand feed and do not want to experience that kind of pain.