What do you feed stings (pics)

[2chance]

Hi,

I'm buying a sting ray for my tank once the filter and water is ready, but I haven't gotten a clue what to feed him/her ,
and if any one knows, what kind of fish can live with them, community, aggressive? can you put plecos with them?

[mseguin]

I usually feed them krill, bloodworms, and ghost shrimp. Generally, invertebrates are good, depending on size crabs etc would be taken.
As for tankmates, you're generally talking large but not aggressive and peaceful fish. So for example discus are sometiems kept with them, you could probably keep angels, large rainbows, etc Plecos might a bit iffy as they would be competing for space but in a large enough aquarium should be ok, assuming the pleco isn't small enough to fit in the stingrays mouth.

[Quatro]

I just saw an article that said suckermouth cats do not mix with rays.  Appartently the pleco would suck the slime coat off the rays resulting in open wounds.

[mseguin]

I could see that being a potential issue yes.

[beowulf]

From what I have read you might want to wait a while before getting one as they are better suited in well established tanks.  Also make sure you have a sandy substrate as they love to hide under it.

[2chance]

well if you can't keep bottom feeders, then what do you do? also can you buy that food for the rays in stores or keep it live in a tank and feed it to him or are the froze or dryed?

[normc]

When we had some in the store one of the staff used to hand feed them krill

[mseguin]

Yeah it takes some patience but I got them to come right up and hand feed. That was fun

[2chance]

This might sound stupid but what is krill???

[beowulf]

Basically really small shrimp.

[2chance]

I heard that stings burn them selves on the heater, what do you do to stop that without buying a $100.00 heater???

[mseguin]

Heater Guard

[2chance]

oooo, i didn't know they had something like that ... Thanks for the heads up, My last question is what Ph and heat level do stings like... I did my research but every one had diffrent opinions ....

[beowulf]

Don't know what you found but from what I have see most freshwater stings like 6.5 to 7.

[mseguin]

Yeah pH would be acidic, heat level I'd say around high 70's to low 80's

[2chance]

Just got the little guy, but he/she is not eating the krills? should I do something? how did you train yours to be hand fed?

P.S
Thanks for the info on the ph and temp, my next step is sand... should be here friday,


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[NjOyRiD]

ohh its a cute li guy! Gratz buddy

[PaleoFishGirl]

Aww so cute

Maybe it's just not hungry yet? Too stressed out or still full from last time?

Best of luck!

[mseguin]

yeah just be patient
also try ghost shrimp, live food might be to his liking.
Where did u get it?

[2chance]

I'll wait and see when stingy is hungry tomorrow and try to feed him something,

I got him special order and shiped for me from big Al's

Costy but it's worth it