Rays

Having a Ray is a great responsibility. It is your obligation to provide a tank for them to live comfortably. You must take into consideration that you are purchasing a juvenile that will grow to maturity, and will require a large system. Prior to purchasing, it is your responsibility to educate yourself on the needs of the Ray and especially its requirements of space.

 

Aquarium Suggestions

- For Inactive species the aquarium must be .75 times as wide as the full adult length of the ray, and 2 - 2.5 times as long.

- For Active species the aquarium must be 1.5 times as wide as the full adult length of the ray, and 4 - 5 times as long.

- It is important to remember that tall configurations of standard tanks may not be as appropriate as longer or wide designs of equal volume.

- When choosing a substrate for your tank, a smaller grade is ideal. Sand or Fine Aragonite Sand is especially important for species that spend lots of time lying on the bottom or that bury themselves.

 

Tank Parameters

- Temperature should be between 70 - 80 Degrees (F)

* Some cold water species do better in the 60's

- Salinity Specific Gravity should be kept between 1.020 - 1.026

- pH should be kept between 7.8 - 8.3

* Rays are sensitive to pH- If adjustments need to be made, they should be done very slow.

 

Common Mistakes

1. Purchasing a Ray on impulse without educating yourself on its biology and necessary care requirements

2. Purchasing a species that will outgrow your tank and/or financial resources

3. Purchasing a species that is too active for the tank you provide

4. Purchasing a cold water species for a tropical aquarium (a chiller may need to be provided)

5. Purchasing a species that poses difficulty for feeding

 

Best Rays for Beginners

* We do not sell each and every Ray listed below, these are just a few suggestions.

Smaller Adult Sizes

- Cortez Round Stingray - Round Stingray

- Bullseye Stingray - Yellow Stingray

- Bluespotted Stingray - Bluntnose Stingray

 

Medium to Large Adult Sizes

- Eastern Fiddler Ray

 

Rays for Experts & Very Large Systems

* We do not sell each and every Ray listed below, these are just a few suggestions.

- Shovelnose Guitarfish -Leopard Torpedo Ray

- Lesser Electric Ray - Bullseye Electric Ray

- Southern Stingray - Atlantic Stingray

- Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray - Bat Ray

 

 

Tank Mates

Bad Tankmates/ Potentially Harmful to your Ray:

- Scorpionfishes - Butterflyfishes

- Large Angelfish - Filefishes

- Triggerfishes - Puffers

- Purcupinefishes

 

Good Fish Tankmates/ Non Harmful Fish:

*We do not sell each and every item listed below, these are just a few suggestions.

- Moray Eels - Snake Eels

- Squirrelfishes - Grouper

- Batfishes - Spinecheeks

- Cardinalfishes - Goatfishes

- Snapper - Jacks

- Discfishes - Monos

- Damselfishes - Hawkfishes

- Sand Perches - Gobies

 

Good Invertebrate Tankmates/ Non Harmful:

*We do not sell each and every Invertebrate listed below, these are just a few suggestions.

- Larger Cowries - Larger Conchs

- Boxer Shrimps - Cleaner Shrimps

- Hermit Crabs - Decorator Crabs

- Slipper Lobster - Spiny Lobster

- Linckia Sea Stars - Brittle Stars

- Pencil Urchins

 

Recommended Ray Food

* Although there is the possibility of transmitting certain parasites, fresh seafood is preferred to frozen as it has greater nutritional value.

- Earthworms - Snails

- Clams - Market Squid

- Frozen Krill - Table Shrimp

- Blue Crab - Sardines

- Herring - Mackerel

- Orange Roughy - Snapper

- River Smelt - Plaice