What are they doing?

[KJP]

My two motoro from time to time will stand up and appear to sneeze, they do a violent jerk to one side. Are they just trying to shake sand off of them or what does that mean?

 

[ewurm]

Maybe a sneeze, maybe a ridding themselves of debris.

 

[Honda12]

My rays do that when they are shredding crayfish and when they are shaking the sand off, so I wouldn't worry to much about it.

 

[ae2359]

yeah thats what they do to get the sand off them also to tear apart food thats to large to fit in their mouths. Nothing to worry about

 

[KJP]

I appreciate the replies. I have seen them when they thrash large prey from side to side, but this is different they stand almost verticle and jerk one time to the side. I'm not worried about it because they are eating a ton and are very active, but i remember my last rays doing this and i was curious.

 

[bymoor]

Luckily I found this ancient thread. My Hystrix was sneezing yesterday and I was like wtf. Managed to take video of it too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se3jPjvDmb0
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se3jPjvDmb0[/yt]

 

[Cool Mart]

Excellent video clip, it really does look like a sneeze .... do rays sneeze in the same way humans do ?

 

[haze]

i love that video it looks like that was a sneeze not just trying to shake sand or anything off it.. and a BIG sneeze at that!!

 

[Conner]

That was friggin cute man

 

[FireMedic]

Just to be on the safe side carefully observe them for Argulus (fish lice). There may be a very slight they may be attempting to rid themselves of an external parasite. Otherwise it is a common feeding behavior.
Respectfully,
FireMedic.