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| All Freshwater rays grow to over 12" in Disc Diameter. Because of this the tank that you provide must be at least 24" wide & preferably 100 gallon capacity or greater to allow them the space they require. Rays are always very active & utilise every area of the aquarium not just the bottom, for this reason it is best to keep any ornaments/unnecessary accessories to the bare minimum. Although a heater guard is one must have item because they are very delicate & burn very easily. For some reason they are attracted to the heater & don't seem to notice that it will harm them. Any rocks, pieces of bogwood etc must be smooth & free from any sharp edges. |
| Substrate choice is a matter of opinion & preference. Some people keep the bottom of their tank bare, others use smooth gravel but the majority of people use sand. I use sand because i think that it provides a surface closest to what they would encounter in their natural environment. It is important to use the correct type of sand. A smooth non abrasive sand is required. Silver sand & any non-Silica based sands such as the type sold as Spa or Pool sand seem to be the most suitable. When using a sand substrate it is important not to have it too deep, say 1" maximum depth because anaerobic areas can occur if it becomes compacted. To prevent this occuring agitate the sand everytime you carryout a water change (Be careful though, watch out for any discarded stings). |
| A good filtration system is the key to keeping healthy rays. Always buy an oversized system (say 1.5 x your tank capacity or greater) to ensure that it will be man enough to handle the amount of waste they produce. I've used Eheim external canister filters with all my fish. Although they are generally more expensive than some of the other filters available on the market i've found them to be the best (whats that old saying "you get what you pay for". Air stones/wands although not a necessity seem to be appreciated but a power head or some means of manipulating the water is a definate requirement. Lighting is optional but avoid positioning your tank where it will receive direct sunlight. A single Florescent tube is more than adequate for most ray setups. When you first acquire your ray try to keep the lights off for at least a few days until he/she settles in. Black rays such as P. Leopoldi seem to be very sensitive to bright lights when they are first imported. |
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