Sharks & Rays

Yes I agree, but saltwater rays and sharks excrete more while in freshwater

 

Sandpaper skinned fish with big teeth and swimming dinner plates with knives

 

So what is the plan with this thread.

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I don't know much about carteligenous fish. Never kept them so I don't have much to discuss

 

While we're here we could probably get onto some constructive conversation about the progression of ornamental ray husbandry in South Africa. I'm sure sharks could be left out of this discussion for now.

I've been out of the game for some time now, and I'm not a ray keeper myself, so I cannot comment fully on this aspect of the hobby. But I do see that it's a growing niche within freshwater fishkeeping; very much overseas and slowly (but increasingly) this side. What I feel is a big factor contributing to this slow growth is a lack of local resources - this includes not only breeders, but also a lack of experienced aquarists to enrich the base and for newer keepers to learn from. On this forum alone we have a considerable number of successful ray keepers, but that number is pretty small considering the size of the hobby across the country. I'm not saying that the onus is on the current ray keepers to kickstart anything, but I really do encourage you guys to have a good sense of community and to be free with your experiences, good and bad. It's a pretty inaccessible section of the hobby (price, availability, experience etc.) so anything that makes the introduction to ray keeping a little easier should be encouraged.

I'm sure our ray keepers (@MariaS, @Cesar, @Reedfish, @neltf, others?) could give better insight into where they see this part of the hobby going, especially with Reedfish's perspectives from outside the country.

That's my ramble. Guys and girls?

 

The only thing I can add is, don't get stung while handling them. My brother got stung a few years ago on a fishing trip and nearly lost his hand. He still doesn't have feeling in that part of his hand today. The doc dug out 2 stingers 2cm and 5cm respectively. He was in the hospital for 2 days with horrible pain. They don't have venom glands but there's a slime covering the stingers that has some bad bacteria on them. It was a spotted blue ray that got him. I stand corrected but I'm certain I read or heard on a show that the freshwater rays are worse than the saltwater species when it comes to stings as their stingers are more dirty than the salties.

They are quick as lighting too when threatened, like a very pissed off wet scorpion.

 

Hectic the doctor was wrong haha.

 

That link is dead, got this off wiki. Interesting.

Biological structure of the barb


A stingray's barb (ruler in cm).
The barb is covered with rows of sharp flat spines, composed of vasodentin. Vasodentin is an incredibly strong cartilaginous material which can easily cut through flesh. The undersides of the spines contain two longitudinal grooves which run along the length of the spine and enclose venom-secreting cells. Both the venom-secreting tissues and vasodentin are enveloped in an epidermis that tears open when the barb is plunged into a victim. Some spines may break off as the barb exits the wound and stay within the victim causing prolonged envenoming.

 

Cool thanks, this one works. This is very interesting for me because of what happened to my brother.

 

Damn, I read in that piece that if you delay it could become infected and cause tissue necrosis.

Here,
"In this case, medical treatment after initial injury was delayed which required surgical treatment and prolonged hospitalization. The delay in initial treatment caused progressive tissue necrosis and secondary infection after injury."

This is exactly what the doc did with my brother, he delayed for a day before attempting anything. This is probably why his hand never recovered properly and it took almost a year to heal. He also had to take a boat load of antibiotics.

 

I've seen people cut the stingers off. Is that common practice?

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Here's a pic of the barb they took out.

 

Some put plastic pipes over the stinger to protect it

Whoo that's awesome. Set in resin?

 

I've done some reading into it, and it's pretty common practice in public aquaria. I'm 50/50 about it in home aquaria though. Safety is important, but so is the wellbeing of the animal. As far as I know, the trimming of the barbs (not actual 'cutting off') is not detrimental to the animal. But I can imagine there might be some degree of stress on the part of the animal. The public aquarium specimens are pretty acclimated to the whole procedure, which I guess helps.

 

Yes. He did that to remember the hell it put him through.