I got a stingray about a month ago and 10 days later, he died. We also had another fish in a different tank in the same room die in the same manner: shuddering, a quick dart to the top, and gone. We have reserached possibile causes, since our water stats were fine with 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and only 5 for nitrate. Temps were in 78-80 range so a little high but not bad. We think a possible poisoning from air freshener or carpet cleaner, but our tanks are covered so it was a mystery. Anyways, after almost 3 weeks of everything being fine with tests and no other deaths, we decided to get another ray. It's a "teacup" ray so should stay small but we're prepared in case she doesn't. No pics yet, but will get some soon. Right now, just excited, with a bit of anxiety. :unsure:

Thats cool, I love teacups! Get some pictures up when you can.

With the other rays they might of even died from changeing the water, some people say they need to put in a tank by accumulating (spelling) them for about 6-7 hours or so, even water changes can kill them in the water thats being added to the tank isnt the same as the tank water its self, does that makes sense? lol. But anyway congrats on getting another one!

Yeah gratz :tup: on the new ray, hope all goes well :tup:


btw

:worthless:



:lol:

Congrats!!

I might be getting rays too w00t.

:cuss: :die: :numchucks: :gun: :fire: :banghead: :mad: :kma:

I say that but I probably wont for a while.

I need to buy a car :(

Hope rays get cheaper in Aus...When they are like $50 each...then we will be happpy :D

rays arent as sensiteive as you may think, ill dig through some of my files and find my article on them, post them soon

That'd be great, Oddball, I'd really appreciate it. I have a couple of books on rays and had done months of research before purchasing one, so was heartbroken with the first's death. Like I said, mystery, but more than likely a ray beginner's mistake of some kind that we don't know that we made. Anyways, if you have info, I am always eager to learn more about rays. Betty, my new ray :wub: , seems to be doing ok so I will turn the lights on in a bit and get a couple of pics posted in this thread before I run out for more shrimp for her.

'teacup' isn't actually a type of ray. it's what baby rays are called when you can't tell what species they are. more than likely it will be at least 18" in diameter at adulthood.

I read the smallest are eight inches but it's very unlikely to get anything under a foot diameter and 30'' wide/deep tanks are minimum

Forgive me as this is old and cant find my revised (and much more accurate version, as such im gonna annotate it with {})

Hi there guys, well the long and short of this is to say ive done a little research into some rays and i would like a little help from here. Below you will find the actual material i've found, but i would like some help obtaining pictures, other possible species etc. This was started a long time ago, and wasnt perfect then, i wish to expand on this and make a complete guide for stingrays for the forum and myself. Also if this is of any use to yourselves in any way please feel free to use the matter, thanks in advance!

Rays belong to the order Rajiformes, of these, the families Dasyatidae, Potamotroygonidae and Pristidae include fresh water species.
Of theses families, only the Potamotroygonidae live their entire lives in fresh water, the other rays have been known to migrate into brackish and even marine environments.
Potamotroygonidae are known as River Stingrays, and fourteen members of the genus Potamotrygon and one member of Disceus, (from Dasyatidae,) are purely fresh water.
Known species of ray, (to me,) found in the hobby are:

Disceus Aierelsa
Potamotrygon Hystrix
Potamotrygon Motro (Motro)
Potamotrygon Reticulatus (Reticulated)
Potamotrygon Leopoldii (Leopoldi)
Potamotrygon Henlei
Potamotrygon Scobina
Potamotrygon Menchacai
Pristes Pristes (Sawfish)
{as mentioned teacup rays are juvies and arent easilly identified}


Rays are unique in body, being compressed horizontally, they have a mouth, nostrils, and six spiracles {gill vents on the underside of the ray} as well as claspers in male rays on the underside of their body. On the upper half of the ray its eyes, rostrum {snout, often looks like the tip of an ace of spades}, defensive spines and a pair of spiracles can be found {circular vents just behind the rays eyes, used to draw water in}. This is different in the saw fish, instead of the spines on the tail, the fish has an extended rostrum with many saw like protrusions.
All species of rays are live bearers, giving birth to live pups, litters can reach up to twelve youngsters, who, for the first week or so live off of a yolk sack similar to the arowanas. {rays have been sold pregnant before! and a few reports of captive breeding are filtering through now}
Rays, (excepting the sawfish,) love to burrow in the substrate, leaving their eyes to be exposed above the sand/gravel {with the upper spiracles}. They stalk sleeping prey at night, however, tame rays can be persuaded to feed during the day and from their owners hand. Naturally rays hunt at night, stalking sleeping prey and engulfing them in their disc like fins, eventually guiding the victim into their mouth to be swallowed whole {or in the case of crustacea, be crushed by the rows of small diamond like teeth}. If the victim does not fit in the rays mouth, it simply releases the fish unharmed unlike some other species of fish (like the pike) who have been known to choke to death on “dinner”.
Sawfish are different, they attack live prey with their snout, slashing at shoals of fish until it kills several before settling down to dinner, all those who wish to keep these fish should be wary. {their attacks are powerfull, easilly gashing arms and slitting arteries}
All rays and sawfish shed their spines at intervals, as one falls out every two to three months, a new spine has grown to replace it, similar to sharks teeth.
Rays grow fast and can outgrow tanks very rapidly. When buying for a ray, remember it is the substrate area that counts, yet they do seem to enjoy attaching to the side of tanks so it should be reasonably deep. For a P.Motro a good tank size would be 72”x24”x25” giving it the room to scoot about as it pleases. Remember they require space so tank decoration should be minimal, or better yet a central focal point if you are lucky enough to be able to views your tank from all angles. Rays are, very sensitive and care should be taken with its water. Nitrate levels must be 20ppm or lower, pH between 6.5 and 7.2 and the temperature range is 24 to 26 degrees Celsius. {RO water is favoured as it it can be brought up to temperature, contains no harmfull chemicals and will "adapt" to the tank conditions}
When housing your ray, you may wish to include tank mates. As such, rays are good community fish, never attacking each other and tank mates, (provided they are not small enough to fit in its mouth and are non violent,) suggested tank mates are birchirs, arowanas, synodontids, butterfly fish, discus, flag tailed prochilodius, ghost knife fish and the African knife fish. Obviously not all of these fish can mix with each other, and you may have others you would wish to keep, so long as they are not small, nosey or aggressive they should work. {plecos have been known to harrass rays to death, but some have been kept with them before, in anycase its a gamble and close observation for a month or so is essential}

{The sting of P.Leopoldii is extremely painfull and is quite capable of paralysis of a human, although rays are peacefull great care should be demonstrated when dealing with them, the one hit ive had off of a P.motoro was enough to make me go to hospital, go dizzy vomit and lose use of my arm for two days}

Thanks so much, Oddball! :tup: And here's a pic. She was swimming a little an dthen got scared and buried herself. She's out again now, but of course my stupid camera batteries died. I'll have to stop and get more when I leave here in a sec to go and get the shrimp for her.

Isn't she cute... I know, bad pic, sorry!

Here's another...

looks like a baby reticulated, cant be sure just yet tho

cute little guy!

got a couple of new pics of Betty, as we have named her. It was Betty or Mertyl and we're going with Betty so if I decide to get a male agian, we'll name him Bill. Bill and Betty. Or Mertyl and Mortimer. Maybe I need 3 more rays just to use all the names. god, I'm such a girl. We're trying to get her on different food and boy is she stubborn. Have gotten some advice off of a diff forum, if anyone here has any advice for intro'ing new food, I'd love it. Thanks, and here's a couple pics....

another....

That is so cool! You should post these in the members fish tanks and displys so everyone can see them! hey will freak out!

wtf mango can u get em in aus?? i've never seen em!

They occasionally become available.

All I need is money :(