Teacup Ray

[showjyr]

I posted this in the Oddball section but I have a feeling there will be more responses here.

This weekend a friend of mine was making a move across country and had a young Teacup Ray(not sure of the exact species yet) that he didn't think would make the trip, and after seeing him neither did I. He doesn't look like he's been eating very well. He's skinny and the tail is very thin. He's only about 4 inches across. I said I would take him because the LFS refused and he had nowhere else to re-home him.


He's been in my community 55g for 2 days. No fish bother him and I've got him eating a little chopped earth worm. The substrate is pea stone and the temp around 79f.

I have a 29g that houses my cray but there is a divider that limits him to about 10g. Only a few endlers in the other side. The tank has Tahitian Moon sand and is over filtered with almost no decor in that side. Would he be better in there until i can get him nursed back to full health?

What else can feed to him the LFS doesn't carry frozen foods?

His stinger and tail tip looks like he may have a bit a fungus. Is it safe to use Melafix or Pimafix with rays and can these 2 be used at the same time?

Sorry for all the questions but i don't want this little guy to die on me.

Thanks,
Jack

 

[showjyr]

Bump....little help?

 

[dthoffsett]

Since rays need room to swim, and are very sensitive to nitrates I would leave it in the larger tank. As I'm sure you are aware, you'll eventually need at least a larger tank for it.

Rays to my knowledge are particularly sensitive to any kind of medication, so I'd hold off adding any until someone with experience can answer. Plenty of fresh clean, dechlorinated water should help it heal. Try to keep your nitrates below 5ppm if possible.

For feeding, the chopped up earthworms should help to bulk it up, you can also try chopped up lancefish and mussel purchased from your local grocery.

 

[showjyr]

I have a 155g bowfront that my larger fish, including the ray with any luck, will be moved into next spring. I just didn't know if the sand substrate and no competition for food in the smaller tank would help him out a bit.

 

[dthoffsett]

I really think he'd be better off in the larger tank, as long as you target feed him and are sure he's getting enough, the larger space would be better. By pea stone I'm assuming you mean small smooth pebbles which won't scratch him up. He won't be able to burrow, but it shouldn't harm him for the time he'll be in there.

 

[showjyr]

Yup it's just small black pebbles.