I'm looking for some advice on freshwater rays. What size tank is recommended? Can I keep more than one? Can I keep any other fish with them? 
fresh water rays
- Thread starter mike.murf1999
- Start date
you would want to keep them in a tank with a large bottom surface area & shallow. A soft sand bottom. Most also get very large but a few stay small. They also need to be fed by hand which makes keeping them difficult. I wish I had the room to keep them.
TeaCup rays are awesome if i had the room i would have one now,like nh5 said a smooth sand is good cause they like to fluster the sand and throw it on top of them to hide and an empty tank would suffice too (no substrate) ..love bloodworm's and shrimp. feed by hand to have a one on one exp. or a turkey baster!..i lost one about 6yrs ago (inexperienced)..now i know better! but he was awesome at the time! they say if u can get them past the first year then your good! yea u can keep other fish with them just try to stay away from some common plecos and bottom dwellers just cause them will sometimes suck the slim coat off the ray.
Teacup ray is just a generic name they use for brown hystrix/reticulata type rays. There are NO small rays or I'd sell 10 of them a day at the store. 14" disk size is going to require a tank that's minimum 2' front to back with at least 6' of cruising room, IMO. Most of them get even larger than that! They're great fish to keep. More interactive than almost any other I've ever had, but definitely going to require some special attention to detail in both their set up and water quality.
I've kept them happily with discus, clown loaches, spiny plecos like P. leopardus, and even severums. The important thing to remember is that as they get larger, anything that fits in their mouth, WILL, and they are very vulnerable with that big exposed disk and eyes sticking up out of the sand. You don't anything with them that can potentially pick on them.
Barbie
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I've kept them happily with discus, clown loaches, spiny plecos like P. leopardus, and even severums. The important thing to remember is that as they get larger, anything that fits in their mouth, WILL, and they are very vulnerable with that big exposed disk and eyes sticking up out of the sand. You don't anything with them that can potentially pick on them.
Barbie
Barbie[/color]
Rays are my absolute fav in the aquatic world. From my researchings on this (as this is my plan as well). Big tank a must! Don't let anyone fool ya by saying you can get away with this or that. 6'x2' bare minimum (I'm building an 8'x2' myself). Another don't is to get a small one and put in say 55g or 75g thinking later you will move it to a bigger tank. 9 times out of 10, that bigger tank never happens. Have the tank first. Sand substrate is much preferred to provide hiding, bare bottom is just ok...gravel is out of the question. Don't clutter the bottom with lots of decor and such. Unless you have an extrememly large tank...it will be practically bare. Water coniditions must be spot on. Must keep up with wc's. Just as if you are keeping Discus'. They are very sensitive creatures. Feeding can be a bit tricky at first. I'm not sure about the hand feeding part but spot feeding with a baster might be the way to go for awhile.
For much better info, check out ]V[onsterFishKeepers.com. I have been spending some good reading time on there prepping for my tank and rays.
For much better info, check out ]V[onsterFishKeepers.com. I have been spending some good reading time on there prepping for my tank and rays.
Well, you can get a baby ray and look it grow...
Then, you may start with mid size tank and grow it with your ray.
You may start with motoro strays which are tough and easy to care.
You can feed them with worms (I use earth worms and they become crazy for them!!!).
You may cut them if too big for your rays mouth.
you better dont have small fish as they will hunt them...
good filtration sys and frequent WC is necesary but being very carfull on adding same water quality.
You dont need to feed them by hand! thy hunt their food (they use their body as a big net trap); but they can learn to take food from your hand which is quite an experience!!!
BAre tank or soft sand is necesary. Becarefull with decor. better none.
Very important, be carefull of rays spine. They have one or two in tail; and sometimes they use their tail as a lashing cord. If thy sting you; youll never forget it!!!
You may need medical attention!!
Then, you may start with mid size tank and grow it with your ray.
You may start with motoro strays which are tough and easy to care.
You can feed them with worms (I use earth worms and they become crazy for them!!!).
You may cut them if too big for your rays mouth.
you better dont have small fish as they will hunt them...
good filtration sys and frequent WC is necesary but being very carfull on adding same water quality.
You dont need to feed them by hand! thy hunt their food (they use their body as a big net trap); but they can learn to take food from your hand which is quite an experience!!!
BAre tank or soft sand is necesary. Becarefull with decor. better none.
Very important, be carefull of rays spine. They have one or two in tail; and sometimes they use their tail as a lashing cord. If thy sting you; youll never forget it!!!
You may need medical attention!!