Tuesday, June 24, 2008

retic stingrays

Hello,
Retic stingrays are generally referred to as "teacup stingrays" by many fish stores because when stingrays are under 5" it is sometimes hard to identify them. Most of the time these "teacup stingrays" are reticulated(retic for short) stingrays. Retic stingrays can get to reach an adult size of 14"(disk size, when a measurement is given for a stingray it is referring to the disk, not including the tail). Retic stingrays, although cheap and readily available are not good stingrays for new stingray keepers. This is due to the fact that they are usually very unhealthy in fish stores and difficult to get to eat. I would not recommend buying a retic stingray that is under 6" because once the stingray hits 6" it is more stable and more likely to survive. If you find a retic stingray over 6" that is healthy and eating, then I would say it is safe to buy it. The thing about retic stingrays is that although they have a smaller disk size compared to other rays, their tails get really long so they still require a larger tank. Some people say that it is okay to start a retic stingray off in a 75 gallon tank, I would have to disagree. Unless you had a really, really good filtration system and did a ton of water changes-75 gallons is just not a big enough water volume to dilute the high amount of waste that stingrays produce. This is the problem with to many people trying to keep stingrays in tanks that are to small-they end up with an ammonia spike. I would say that a 125 gallon tank is a much more appropriate grow out tank(note that it is only a grow out tank, unfortunetly no stingray can live in a 125 gallon tank for life). A standard 75 gallon tank has a 4'x18". a 125 gallon has a 6'x18" footprint. A 125 gallon tank gives you an extra 2' of length and also an extra 50 gallons. This is a much better start. A 6'x30" tank can house a male retic stingray for life but I would recommend an 8'x3' tank for females. In all species of stingrays, females grow larger.

Pictures(again note that none of these pictures are mine):
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