Freshwater Stingrays

[The Snake Guru]

Some P.reticulatus that keep....only fish tank I have.....pretty cool little buggers.

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http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/33650stgray44.JPG.jpg

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/33650stgray22.JPG.jpg

[Boots]

They must be very young as I thought they quickly out grow any tank they are in?

Jason

[The Snake Guru]

Depends on the species actually, reticulated stingrays are one of the smallest species only attaining a total disc diameter of 8 to 10 inches at the most, these guys are actually about 4 years old and a little over 8", they are in a 75 gallon, with a wet/dry filter and a 3 stage pressurized filter system. Most Freshwater Stingrays do get quite large especially the cheaper ones found in pet stores, I ordered these in from an importer/exporter because I knew they were one of the true dwarf species.

~B~

[Aaron_S]

that's pretty cool. I remember we had a freshwater sting ray at a pet store I used to work at. We never did really get it to eat. Don't remember if we still sold it or it died.

[ffollett]

Brad really needs to charge admission to get into his house. Because it isn't just a visit to someones house its a visit to the zoo.

[Aaron_S]

I only get to take a peek by seeing his pics so he can charge whatever he wants because I won't be able to get there!

[SerpentLust]

Wow, I was always told that freshwater stingrays are very hard to keep in captivity because most are wild caught that do not adapt well. But of course, that's up here...very nice rays.

[The Snake Guru]

Glad everyone is enjoying the pics!

Charge admission.....LOL, actually isn't too bad of an idea, may help pay for the feeding bill! LOL

Actually caring for Stingrays isn't that bad, if the tank is setup properly....which most people don't do. They also do best in a species tank, even though I did manage to successfully integrate 2 redhooks into my tank with no problems.....but they really aren't a community type fish. As long as you keep up on the water changes I've actually found them to be fairly easy to keep.

~B~

[ohh_kristina]

wow, that's cool. i'm super jealous of you!

[The Snake Guru]

Thanks I'm glad you are enjoying the pics.....no reason to be jealous though, I just enjoy my stuff way too much.....may drive me to the poor house one day. LOL

~B~

[ffollett]

or the nut house.

[The Snake Guru]

or the nut house.

Too late already been there...they kicked me out! LOL

~B~

[Aaron_S]

So what do you feed thos bad boys?

[The Snake Guru]

They eat a wide variety of things, live blackworms, earthworms, blood worms, raw shrimp, strips of fish, krill, I kind of switch off here and there.

~B~

[Aaron_S]

What are blackworms?

[The Snake Guru]

Boy I don't know how to explain that one....they are sometimes called "Trout Worms" but basically they are small thin black aquatic worms....perhaps a little thicker than tubifix worms.

~B~

[Aaron_S]

Hmm I see. Pretty cool anyways I guess.

What's with the boy comment? lol

[The Snake Guru]

LOL, I didn't actually mean "boy" more like "Boy I tell ya" or some crap like that just slanging it a little. LOL

They are pretty neat but soon to be sold, need the tank for the Alligator snapper they were just holding on to it till he got big enough to move over there.

~B~

[Aaron_S]

hahaha awww. Well I guess it's easier sticking with just herps.

[The Snake Guru]

Yup that is pretty much the jist of what's happening....I used to do a lot with fish back in the day....but I'd much rather stick to my Reps....just had to keep the rays for awhile because it was something I had never done....had them for almost 4 years now, and Milo has gotten big enough to move now...so time to move on. LOL

~B~

[Aaron_S]

I like fish. I'd prefer a salt water tank if I ever do another one. Once they get going they are easier than the freshwater.

[The Snake Guru]

Yeah I had a Salt tank once.....Never, ever again! LOL Too damn messy that salt creep and mixing and tesing crap got to me like nothing ever. The fish are neat but I'd rather do fresh. But everyone has got thier thing....probably would be better too if we could decent stock around here.

~B~

[Aaron_S]

Woman says she wants a saltwater tank. I'm supposed to make it happen. Also a Piranha tank. I dislike the messy buggers though.

[The Snake Guru]

Boy ain't that the truth! I had a Piranha tank once....even with enough filtration to turn the tank over 12 times an hour I was still cleaning it once a week! Nasty buggers.

Well you best get on that what the women want the women get! LOL

~B~

[reptile boi]

hey brad, just wondering if you ever had success with either culturing blackworms or keeping them alive for more than a few days.


thanks,
ben

[The Snake Guru]

Tried culturing.....it wasn't worth the time.

But keeping them, yeah that's a sinch I have a refigerator upstairs and they stay alive for over a month sometimes.....I change the water everyother day with R/O water....seems to work.

~B~

[microsnake]

blackworms are a type of aquatic insect larvae.

Beautiful stingrays by the way! Are you going to try to breed them/do you have both genders? Just interested, because breeding in captivity is pretty unusual for stingrays.

[The Snake Guru]

They are a male and female yes, I've been playing around with the water chemistry trying to induce some mating behavior...so far no go though.

~B~

[C3ntury]

For reference purposes, Potamotrygon spp. can certainly be housed with a variety of fish spp. (piranha included) and still able to grow/breed. They are fairly tolerant of water parameters as well; Stability is key. IME the reason for the "mythinformation" of difficulty in care is:

Lack of diligence.
Illegal status in many states leads to presumptions of difficulty status.

[The Snake Guru]

For reference purposes, Potamotrygon spp. can certainly be housed with a variety of fish spp. (piranha included) and still able to grow/breed. They are fairly tolerant of water parameters as well; Stability is key. IME the reason for the "mythinformation" of difficulty in care is:

Lack of diligence.
Illegal status in many states leads to presumptions of difficulty status.

That by far is the stupidist thing I have ever heard. You realize of course that Piranha are predatory my nature? And while they may in the wild exist in the same riverine conditions.....this by no means what so ever says that should or even could replicate this a home aquarium.

Lack of Diligence pretty much will kill anything in captivity.

Illegal in some states....highly possible.

Housing with other species....yes possible.....I had these 3 housed with Redhooks with no issues. But Piranha......that's just completely and utterly idiotic.

:no:

~B~

[C3ntury]

I am fully aware of piranha husbandry and the misinformation attached to their status. I am also fully aware that the majority of piranha species are skittish by nature and would rather not attack anything outright. Domestic counterparts often do not assume such predatory demeanors such as in the wild; however, there are many variables as to why that I won't even bother covering. If this indeed is unreasonable to accomplish, do inform the many aquariums and zoological societies that have already accomplished this feet in aquaria. My statement was not to emphasize that Potamotrygon spp. can always be housed with piranha, but rather that it is possible, has been done, and more-so that there are numerous fish spp. that can co-habitate with Potamotrygon spp. This is fact. In conclusion, I was merely trying to provide corrective information to the thread, but apparently you know all there is *rolls eyes.* By the way, even for a smaller sp. of Potamotrygon, your aquarium size is still not adequate for reliable long-term rearing/breeding. Knowing all that you do, you should have realized this *double eye roll.* Enjoy your night and not to worry, I won't bother you by responding to your thread any longer :)

[The Snake Guru]

I am fully aware of piranha husbandry and the misinformation attached to their status. I am also fully aware that the majority of piranha species are skittish by nature and would rather not attack anything outright. Domestic counterparts often do not assume such predatory demeanors such as in the wild; however, there are many variables as to why that I won't even bother covering. If this indeed is unreasonable to accomplish, do inform the many aquariums and zoological societies that have already accomplished this feet in aquaria. My statement was not to emphasize that Potamotrygon spp. can always be housed with piranha, but rather that it is possible, has been done, and more-so that there are numerous fish spp. that can co-habitate with Potamotrygon spp. This is fact. In conclusion, I was merely trying to provide corrective information to the thread, but apparently you know all there is *rolls eyes.* By the way, even for a smaller sp. of Potamotrygon, your aquarium size is still not adequate for reliable long-term rearing/breeding. Knowing all that you do, you should have realized this *double eye roll.* Enjoy your night and not to worry, I won't bother you by responding to your thread any longer :)

Well being as fully aware of those facts, you also know that some of the species of which have pointed a vague and general reference towards are also not that readily available to the general public.

And the big difference between the home aquarium and zoological aquriums is ohhhh about 1,000 gallons give or take.....as I already stated; possible it may be but not in a "normal" household, nor with some of the more commonly available piranha species.

I don't know everything, but I do know that the stingrays are hard enough to keep the way it is due to water quality and feeding practices...kept with too aggressive of a species they will eventually starve to death due to the other fish jumping in feeding before them.

All that said....ehhhh whatever man, you want throw some $50+ stingrays in with some $3.00 Piranha....have it! Should make for an interesting show....give me call when you've actually done it and had running for a good few years succesfully.....otherwise don't pretend to preach to me about how they should or shouldn't be kept because you saw it in a zoo.

~B~

[undr]

Holy wayyyyyyy fn cool that is awesome... maybe when i get my larger tank, i can get one :0)

[jejton]

blackworms are a type of aquatic insect larvae.

Beautiful stingrays by the way! Are you going to try to breed them/do you have both genders? Just interested, because breeding in captivity is pretty unusual for stingrays.

Actually thats bloodworms ( at least here in the US), which are midge larvae. Blackworms are annelids ( like earthworms and tubifex worms). They are supposed to be cleaner than tubifex because they are raised in trout ponds ( as opposed to collected in sewage outlets ), nutritious and lots of fish and amphibians love them. They are supposed to be relatively easy to culture according to some sites ( like carolina biological ). You need to keep them in a container of decholorinated water, maybe an inch or two over them, and a piece of brown paper towel under them. The paper is for bacterial growth which the worms eat. You can also drop in a fish pellet once in a while. The key is keeping them cool in the fridge and changing the water every couple of days ( with dechlorinated water ).

[drec91]

wow, those are very cool. I think it is common sense not to keep piranha with rays. Seems pretty obvious to me.
PeAcE

[C3ntury]

*Sigh* I find it somewhat tiresome how the basis' of my previous posts have been misinterpreted/misunderstood. First off, the majority of hobbyists do not have the proper confines to house a school of piranha let alone stingrays of any specie. Secondly, my statement was not in reference to a recommendation of housing piranha and stingray together, but rather that there are many species of fish that can be housed with stingrays and even though piranhas are not recommended to hobbyists, it can be done. "Can be done" is a general statement not necessarily geared towards hobbyists alone, unlike the butchering it received. You completely missed the entire point or at least chose to. You are correct that I have not mixed the two species yet as I have not had a need to; however, it has been done successfully. As for general husbandry, as I have stated, stability is more important than exact parameters and that is coming from personal experience in breeding P. leopoldi, motoro, and schroederi.