stingray questions

[antwon]

do stingrays require fine sand??? my friend has a saltwater tank but is not on the forums. he asked me, and i didnt know, so i decided to aske u guys! LOL he wantes to purchase a round/cortez ray, but i think hi sand is coarse. any imput?

 

[btldreef]

Coarse sand can be very damaging to a sting ray. It can scratch them and cause infections, as well as just make them so uncomfortable that they stop eating/thriving.
I hope he has a larger tank as well.
Definitely needs to change the substrate, or get rid of that ray.

 

[antwon]

how do u change substrate?? and he didnt buy it yet, but he read they needed fine sand but wasnt suree

 

[btldreef]

Quote:
Originally Posted by antwon http:///forum/thread/382395/stingray-questions#post_3337072
how do u change substrate?? and he didnt buy it yet, but he read they needed fine sand but wasnt suree
I believe there are a few threads burried somewhere on here on how to do it safely. I've never had to change substrate personally, so I don't want to tell you one way and give you the wrong answer.

 

[antwon]

oh ok well thanks for not giving me wrong info LOL i feel like it would be impossible without draining the whole tank

 

[dean1956]

I use a combination of oolite (real fine) and special grade reef sand for my Rays but oolite is the way to go with them. Even though the other is not real course it can still cause problems for sensitive Rays like Blue Spots which I have one and she has worn down the corners of her pelvic fins on the not so fine substrate. She seems to prop herself up on them while feeding more than any other of the Rays. I am changing the courser out little by little. In your buddies system you could pull out a few cups at a time and replace it with out draing the whole thing and then you are not stirring up all the garbage thats buried in the sand.

 

[btldreef]

Dean, I'm so glad you came to comment on this thread. How are your rays?

 

[dean1956]

They are all doing fine even the Blue and Yellow Spotted ones after a long battle to get them to eat. The California Rounds are allways tough as nails as I see it. They are a good beginer saltwater Ray IMO along with the Cortez which I don't see much of in the hobby. Mix their food up and dont over feed and they will be fine. The " Aquarium By The Pacific" only feeds there Cal. Rays 3 times a week and keeps the water temp in the low 60's, of course we would need a chiller to do that, but you can have them in the mid 70's also but then they are much more active as I have seen first hand. Mine get feed every other day a good portion and they are fatso's. Sorry I have'nt been around here much but been hanging around the Shark and Ray guy's at MFK forum. Glad to see someone else getting into the pet Ray thing. Just take care of them as they are not really an aggressive fish except at feeding time with each other. Angel fish and triggers as I am sure all know are not good tank mates, sooner or later the will start to pick at the Rays eyes and tail, thats just what they do. I have 2 yellow striped grunts in with mine and they need to go only because they spook the Rays sometimes when I come around they dart around and scare the rays so they will be gone soon if some one will buy them or I mught have to give them away.