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Looks like a girl to me.
"teacup" stingray
- Thread starter blazetown
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Yes a sump is a good call on the driftwood and of course with helping out on water quality. Scratches & cuts quickly lead to major infection which is why as boring as it may look, a barren tank is best for these guys.
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What if the wood was sanded smooth?
You can get splinters from even smooth wood. All you have to do is rub up against it at the right angle.
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Sometimes they get spooked and take off, if they slam into the wood (no matter how sanded or dull) they will die or develop an injury/infection. That's why they do best in a good sized enclosure...so that they have plenty of room to maneuver and avoid colliding into things.
This too. We had cownose rays at the exhibit as well and they would literally jump out of the water and belly flop when spooked. The Southerns would take off across the pool.
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Ah, okay. See I've never had sharks/stingrays. Thought I'd put out some curiosities.
Regardless of species I've decided to design an acrylic tank for her. I'm also a little confused on that topic. Anyone know anything about building a plastic tank lol? I wonder if I can find the proper plastic to use at home depot
I read a web page on building acrylic tanks but I still wonder about the plastics and sealants leaking...I might have to stick with glass and silicon. Acrylic seems so much lighter and cheaper though....
I read a web page on building acrylic tanks but I still wonder about the plastics and sealants leaking...I might have to stick with glass and silicon. Acrylic seems so much lighter and cheaper though....
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Number of spines is not diagnostic. At least with the round stingray according to some research by some grad students at my school they grow a new spine every year(irregardless of whether the old one has been used or not). Thus...clipping off the spines of a stingray is only a temporary measure.
Thanks Dt...while I wait for some of our resident zoologists and aquarium builders to answer my other questions here's some more pictures. Also I've noted the driftwood problem and my friend Ray Fillet will be in proper conditions after I get the money and learn how to build a proper tank. That giant piece of malaysian wood is being used as a barrier currently. The plan being to established a wall of plants in the corners and sides so the ray doesn't damage itself swimming. I replant the new cuttings everyday though so in a few days the log will be on the opposite end. The next step is setting up the 55 gallon for the polypterus so Ray Fillet can go in the 40 while I build an acrylic system. That and making something to raise ghost shrimp in. Petsmart(in Canada petco U.S.A.) had ghosts for 99 cents a pop. I went in to buy some reserve food for the ray because I'm leaving for a day or two and ended up saying F it for that price. Lesson being I need to just set up my own breeding tank for ghosts...heck I might as well breed and sell them. Canada sucks for prices and availability of certain things. Anyway this has turned into a blog so once again any creative aquarium builders or biologists any input would be appreciated.
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Building a WATERPROOF acrylic is extremely difficult...if it fails, the results are catastrophic. It's very hard to seal up an acrylic tank you will definitively be better off buying one.
The drift wood in that tank is too busy...he will inevitably hurt himself as you currently have it set up.
The drift wood in that tank is too busy...he will inevitably hurt himself as you currently have it set up.
update
So the reticulata has had a new friend (motoro) for some time now. I've decided to go with an indoor pond rather than an acrylic tank. I've been having some issues deciding what to do exactly though. I'm looking for a 300 gallon rubbermaid stock tank (apparently hard to find in London) and I think I'll step up from that with either a custom rectangular 500 gal pond in my basement or just a similar sized rectangular hydro system reservoir or containment basin. Does anyone have any experience with indoor pond systems? My main concern is humidity, so I'll likely cover the system 90% of the time to lower evaporation and get a new dehumidifier. I'm thinking a flat square pre-formed pond/stock tank would be the best for the rays. Any opinions? I remember someone talking about them needed forms of entertainment , and mentioning throwing a hamster ball full of bloodworms for them to roll around all day. Anyone have any other suggestions for stingray entertainment lol?
So the reticulata has had a new friend (motoro) for some time now. I've decided to go with an indoor pond rather than an acrylic tank. I've been having some issues deciding what to do exactly though. I'm looking for a 300 gallon rubbermaid stock tank (apparently hard to find in London) and I think I'll step up from that with either a custom rectangular 500 gal pond in my basement or just a similar sized rectangular hydro system reservoir or containment basin. Does anyone have any experience with indoor pond systems? My main concern is humidity, so I'll likely cover the system 90% of the time to lower evaporation and get a new dehumidifier. I'm thinking a flat square pre-formed pond/stock tank would be the best for the rays. Any opinions? I remember someone talking about them needed forms of entertainment , and mentioning throwing a hamster ball full of bloodworms for them to roll around all day. Anyone have any other suggestions for stingray entertainment lol?
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have you ever gone to www.monsterfishkeepers.com? They usually have good recommendations on building a giant tank, etc.
i could never house something that large, but I do love visiting that forum and looking at pics.
i could never house something that large, but I do love visiting that forum and looking at pics.
I was actually on that site all day and I ended up talking to a knowledgeable employee at Big Als for a while about rays. I think I'm gonna end up building a pond in the basement with cinder blocks and a wood frame. Then throw in some pond liner and use a poly sheet or plexi sheet to cover it most of the time to keep the humidity down. I read a good article about one of the larger aquariums (possibly Monteray Bay) using a cool system to strip out nitrates and other chemicals. They hung a section of PVC tube from the sealing which was halved and coated with white epoxy. The filter return was pumped down this tube into the tank and they hung UV lighting above it. This promoted algae growth which removed large amounts of nitrates. I just thought I should share this concept because I'm sure a few of us might find it useful or interesting. I'm planning on running something like this through my system but I will likely just use a 2' or 3' T5.
P.S. T5s from hydroponic or greenhouse supply stores are way cheaper than pet stores.
P.S. T5s from hydroponic or greenhouse supply stores are way cheaper than pet stores.
Go on monsterfishkeepers....there is a chap here in Calgary that works for a local pond company that built a fantastic pond in his basement for his rays...complete with underwater lighting, side view windows, etc...he posted his project on MFK, and I am certain that he would be happy to give you some tips...he is a great guy.