I have 125 gallon tank that I would like to house a teacup ray in. Yes, I know I will need to get a bigger tank but it will be fine until he/she gets bigger. Anyways I was considering just quartz sand on the bottom then maybe on the very end add a few rocks/plants so it has some color. I'd leave the rest open for the ray. Anyways I was told you need a little salt for the ray and obviously plants can't survive salt water (except java moss). 2nd what would you recommend for other fish I could add. Already have a fire eel that has plenty of pvc tubbing below the sand. Thanks for reading!!
Freshwater Stingray need salt? Also need a few tankmate recommendations
- Thread starter aquariumdude
- Start date
Suprised your still going to do this even after everyone said you shouldn't. I already abandoned my plan for a sting ray tank and going to do something else.
Props to James for keeping calm.
Props to James for keeping calm.
I'm completely dumb founded because I never said 125 would house one of these forever. If he grows full growth in 1 year (impossible takes 3 years to completely get full size even if the tank was 1,000,000,000 gallons) I will buy a bigger tank to help fit him. I'm not some novice idiot who is going to torture a fish...I've went to multiple breeders sites, contacted a petstore guy that knows alot about rays and read the actual facts on rays through like dictionary.com and other sites like so as well. They said minimum tank needs to be 6 1/2 x 18" and that will house retics, hystrix and scopina rays. So again, this is temporary just for a year or two.
Another thing, lets say the ray gets big and grows to be 14". You recommended a 2' wide tank to house him once he gets full size. Well that only gives him 10" of play room....if I buy one that is 4"-5" that gives him 13" of play room....so what you said doesn't really make since now does it? It all depends on the size of the ray from what I was told...if he does get bigger I will buy another tank that would house him or at worst i'd sell him.
I appologize if I seem arguementative it's just frusterating that I've called around, talked to breeders and looked up the facts and everywhere I look says 125 gallon is fine for a starter tank...then u guys basically say im stupid and should never do that. But within 2 years you need to move into bigger...if you can actually find a site that proves this wrong PLEASE let me know. I'm not saying you guys are completely wrong maybe its just me....but I want to know who cites the information you are getting because a forum post from someone else doesn't mean anything to me. If you read some of the comments on here you'd be shocked. I saw a thread where a guy said a 200-300 gallon tank would house a big shark....so again if you could just send me links to other informational sites that'd be awesome!~!
Sorry again and I appreciate your help and comments~!~
its not necessarily the fact that the volume is too small, but the surface area. unfortunately, large surface area tanks usually come only in very large tank sizes. rays need very large tanks because they need so much surface area more than anything else. personally, i think you should go with something at least three feet wide...this is why rays are popular inhabitants for custom tanks. people can make big glass cubes as large as they want.
aquariumdude...like I mentioned in your other thread...I'm not trying to bash you. And sure...I don't want to discourage you at all. Rays are simply awesome and majestic creatures. I have been in love with these guys for over 40 years (woops...hope I didn't date myself there 
). From the small reticulated rays to the giant manta's. I've even swam with them.
Anyway...back on point here. You say it is only temporary. Don't take this the wrong way...9 times out of 10...the upgrade never happens. Who suffers? You? No...the fishy. Intentions are one thing....being able to follow through are another. Can't begin to tell you how many horror stories I have seen and heard of where people (with good intentions mind you) buy a fishy with inadequate meand and the sole intent of buying or making a larger home. Life happens, the bigger home never comes..etc, etc, etc.
This is why it has taken me so long to be able to raise them myself. I was never in position to provide the adequate home they need. Me personally...i do not recommend the 2 wide tank. That is just a minimum recommendation...Personally...I'd go with 3 wide ...but that's just me.
You're also talking about housing an eel and CK with it. How are you going to provide ample hides for the eel and CK while maintaining surface area for the ray? What kind of filtration do you have currently? Turn over rate? Are you prepared to do massive water changes at minimum of 50% weekly?
It's not meant to discourage....it's simply meant to help you. That's all.
And please do me a big favor.....don't think that we are calling you stupid. Not all. You asked for advice and opinions...and we are giving you just that. I admire your ambitions. Just trying to look after both you and ray.
). From the small reticulated rays to the giant manta's. I've even swam with them.Anyway...back on point here. You say it is only temporary. Don't take this the wrong way...9 times out of 10...the upgrade never happens. Who suffers? You? No...the fishy. Intentions are one thing....being able to follow through are another. Can't begin to tell you how many horror stories I have seen and heard of where people (with good intentions mind you) buy a fishy with inadequate meand and the sole intent of buying or making a larger home. Life happens, the bigger home never comes..etc, etc, etc.
This is why it has taken me so long to be able to raise them myself. I was never in position to provide the adequate home they need. Me personally...i do not recommend the 2 wide tank. That is just a minimum recommendation...Personally...I'd go with 3 wide ...but that's just me.
You're also talking about housing an eel and CK with it. How are you going to provide ample hides for the eel and CK while maintaining surface area for the ray? What kind of filtration do you have currently? Turn over rate? Are you prepared to do massive water changes at minimum of 50% weekly?
It's not meant to discourage....it's simply meant to help you. That's all.
And please do me a big favor.....don't think that we are calling you stupid. Not all. You asked for advice and opinions...and we are giving you just that. I admire your ambitions. Just trying to look after both you and ray.
I have a rena filstar xp3 with 2 other 300 aquaclear. I have 4-5 pvc pipes under the sand so really I probably dont have 125 pds of sand. So it's about an inch high and he never comes out besides obviously peaking his head. He does come out to eat worms every other night but once he grabs it he's gone. Therefor I figured a ray still had the whole surface area to himself. I had piranhas starting in a 29 gallon tank, got more and upgraded in a month. Got a nice 55 gallon then got another one to house a few more...I was going to keep them and that's why I just recently bought 125 gallon. Obviously you can see where I'm getting. I love fish and I think they are very majestic as well...awesome creatures. You can see I'm willing to spend the money to upgrade, money isn't an issue. Anyways what would a custom tank run? Just curious on what I'm getting into. Now from this forum I am having second thoughts....i'm willing to upgrade but not if it's gunna be like 3k if you know what I mean. What are some other neat looking fish? I love the clown knife but obviously he's too big....i think flounder can be kinda cool too. Anyways need suggestions again....
Aquariumdude,
as with many sites and online posts you really can't tell what folks are saying.. it is verbatim. one problem with no real interaction this makes it easy to take things wrong..
most folks here are just gently suggesting alternatives.
Like I said , ultimately you will make the decision.
a 125 would be nice start. but, so often as mentioned, folks don't do the upgrades. so many are gun shy and would like to see the correct set up from the get go.
can you blame them? many of the tropical fish we keep are gorgeous creatures it does no justice to them to house them incorrectly. so many here are nearly fanatics when it comes to beautiful creatures like rays.
Take it with a grain of salt. you really don't have to justify it but you do have to live with your decisions.
hang in there .
as with many sites and online posts you really can't tell what folks are saying.. it is verbatim. one problem with no real interaction this makes it easy to take things wrong..
most folks here are just gently suggesting alternatives.
Like I said , ultimately you will make the decision.
a 125 would be nice start. but, so often as mentioned, folks don't do the upgrades. so many are gun shy and would like to see the correct set up from the get go.
can you blame them? many of the tropical fish we keep are gorgeous creatures it does no justice to them to house them incorrectly. so many here are nearly fanatics when it comes to beautiful creatures like rays.
Take it with a grain of salt. you really don't have to justify it but you do have to live with your decisions.
hang in there .