Sharks & Rays

I can imagine. I wonder if @MariaS collects fallen barbs

 

@Discusnut , the stinger is serrated... imagine a fishing hook, you cant pull it out or you will cause major damage.
If the stinger is long, and it can get, especially in the wild, and is in an awkward spot or moving around and causing more damage, they often cut the stinger shorter while taking the person for medical attention
This is just to stop it from moving too much and causing more damage

If the stinger is small and you can keep it still, then they don't usually cut it

NB Maybe I misunderstood your question, I am referring to cutting the stinger off shorter, if you are stung

 

We had to cut the stingers to get it free from his hand, we used a side cutter.

 

With this one we had to cut the stinger, way too deep and the fish didn't want to sit still so with every movement the barb just goes deeper and deeper. That's how you ruin a holiday real good.

 

That's cool. People also collect goldfish teeth

I wonder if polys drop teeth

 

What's the longest one you've got so far, your rays look bigger than the one who stung my brother.

 

@SalmonAfrica .. yes, as @Reedfish says some people cut the tip of the barb but from what I have read it is not really common practice most people are too scared to do it anyway

The people that do trim the barb ( they dont cut the barb completely, only the tip is trimmed up to where the vein starts, like cutting a dog's nails) are invariably people whose rays are breeding to prevent the female from stinging the male during mating.. Yes.. it can happen and she can kill him

Stingray mating can get pretty nasty if the male is a bit of a bugger or the female decides she doesn't like him
Females get badly bitten.. @Cesar can chime in here.. Im not sure if he has pictures of Rose after being with ray that he can post.....

My rays haven't shed a stinger yet, I think Polkadot is about to shed her first one but Cesar's have many times

 

@MariaS @Reedfish You guys ever had a close call?

 

You are absolutely right @SalmonAfrica ...

Ray keeping has only really started taking off over the last year or so, I do believe that 3 years ago we were probably the first that ordered rays to be brought into the Country

Since, slowly but surely people have taken an interest and fallen in love with these amazing creatures and there are now many ray keepers around.
With the rising demand, rays are coming in regularly and have become fairly affordable
Fair enough it is hybrids that come at affordable prices but they are stunning rays and are popular all over the world and at least for now it gives hobbyists the opportunity to own a ray
If you are a purist, you can bring in pure bred but then you need to be prepared to pay the price...
Hopefully we will see some breeding in the future but our black rays are still a bit young

The priciest part then would be a decent sized tank and filtration which yes.. costs money but its also a once off.. once set up you good
My advice.. if you going rays. don't start of small.. sacrifice set up what they need and then go ray shopping then you know you ok in this way you spend money on what you need one shot and don't get caught off guard latter
This.. I appeal to all out there that might be thinking of going into ray keeping..... First get the right home for them... then get your rays

As far as support goes
We have in a way taken on the responsibility of helping and guiding those that need help and are put onto us by the LFS that sells the rays ( and they are doing this) as well as TASA members that ask and we do this as an on-going support system.. I think people like @neltf and @perry41 will vouch for this.. we always there for anyone that needs help
Sometime ago, as I saw there were more and more ray keepers around and the interest was growing, I also wrote up 2 quite comprehensive threads on Ray keeping husbandry and identification of the most common aquarium species
Both these threads are on TASA Oddball fish forum as stickies

This same article I wrote for TASA, was requested by probably the biggest importer in the Country and was given to them so that they can hand out with every ray sold.. if they doing it or not.. Im not sure... but... I have tried..

For those thinking of getting rays... they are absolutely awesome creature which will bring you much fun and enjoyment
Respect them and they will accept you but always respect them!!

 

No.... I have never had a close call with them but I start handling the pups as soon as they arrive and target feeding etc
Thye get so used to me that they come to you when I work in the tank
Having other fish with them in the tank is something to watch for if you working closely with the rays as, if one of the other fish startles them then they could panic
Usually they run and bury themselves before actually stinging you (reason why I believe in substrate for ray tanks) but accidents can happen

@Cesar can chime in here too... he handles and moves the big rays around often so maybe he can share

As I said in the previous post.. respect your rays at ALL times
Don't take anything for granted and don't play around if you are being distracted by something or someone

 

I agree 100%....

But... keeping one thing in mind..... Cichlids... Koi... guppies... anytime you don't want them there are always a million open hands happy to take them from you...

The rays..... im not so sure... that's why I preach so much

 

As straightforward as it may be, @Reedfish, it's a big leap for a lot of people, and it's good to know that there are others with a few years under their belts to lend a word of advice, if need be.

@MariaS - rays have been around for a little while, but never in big numbers. One reason was that they were 'blacklisted', as per the old legislation (Potamotrygon hystrix, Potamotrygon laticeps, Potamotrygon motoro, and Potamotrygon reticulatus were the species listed). I don't know how strict the government was on this, but most of the local store owners I knew were aware of the ban. There were a few, however, which still brought them in (mainly P. motoro), but even then they were priced anywhere between R3000 and R8000. Back then, a very rare sight and a big wow factor, but I never knew anyone personally who took them home.

These days, I haven't seen them at all. Besides there being a slight dip in the ornamental trade (bad exchange rates and water shortages contributing here), there isn't as much a demand for the rarer fish types, at least in my area. Occasionally you'll get lucky, but rays are not among the new stock. I'll try asking around and see if they're available, or if there's any demand.

 

I've only ever seen one ray at a shop, and a few in European aquariums.

I'd only keep these if I build a tropical pond, I like to keep my tanks lower maintenance. A dream fish for me is both African and Asian arowanas, amongst other fish.

 

I can really agree that Maria & Cesar has been helping me a lot , sometimes I feel like a real noob because I have kept so many other different fish , but not rays...
Maria & Cesar know my details by now , and I can't thank them enough for all their support & guidance

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