| Hot: |  |  | | | |
After receiving several emails concerning general information and care of freshwater stingrays, we at The Aquarium Source decided to compile some basic information into an article for all to read. Keep in mind that this is general information for stingrays IN GENERAL. This is not information for all stingrays but may answer the questions that you have, if not feel free to contact us with your question.
First off let me state that freshwater stingrays are NOT for beginners. The ray is a very complicated and expensive pet that requires specific tanks settings. As with any new addition to your aquarium, your new ray should be chosen from established rays. What we mean by established rays is that the ray you are thinking about getting has passed its quarantine time and is feeding. Some rays will not feed once they have been caputred.
Seeing how a ray is a scale-less fish, you do not want to put any type of tank mate in with them that might damage the slime coating that covers their bodies, such as plecos and sucker mouth catfish. When setting up your tank chose tank mates that are from your rays natural home (most rays come from Africa). Also keep in mind that rays can grow large so plan accordingly.
Consider the substrate for your ray. Remember that it is a SCALE-LESS fish so it does not have the protection that other fish have, rough and jagged substrate will scratch and cut the rays underside while it rest on the bottom. Care should be taken to keep the ray away from the heater in the tank, without scales they will burn easily. Treating a sick or injured ray is very tricky and most of the time it is unsuccessful.
Completing frequent water changes will help keep the chemical levels down in the tank. By frequent we mean more often that you would do normal water changes for any other aquarium species. Rays are extremely sensitive to chemical imbalances.
The best advice we can give on any specific ray is to contact your seller and get the exact conditions for the tank that the ray is in. Sellers who are worth doing business with will not have a problems telling you what the conditions of the tank are, that way you can do what needs to be done to your tank to match it. If the seller has an issue telling you the conditions of the tank, find a new seller, they might be the type to send a sick ray or not honor any type of guarantee they may make with a ray.
Rays are very graceful and unique, and no matter how you look at it, they will always provide entertainment and a new level of excitement to your tank, even if they are just sitting on the bottom.