Re: Regarding Freshwater Stingrays' Babies. – 07/16/08
Hi Neale,
Thanks for the prompt reply! :)
<You're welcome.>
We have removed the babies from the main pond, to avoid adults having conflicts with them.
<Good. Do also try and separate the female for a while, so she can "fatten up" a bit.>
The ponds that we shifted the babies to is 4ft long 2 ft wide 2ft depth (6 in one and 5 in the other), the pond for adults is 18ft long 10ft wide 2ft depth (total 8 adults within it).
<Sounds great.>
There is no substrate at all, totally clear water. pH was around 7.2.
<All good.>
We did put in the pandan plant to minimise the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate issue.
<Hmm... is it possible some pesticide spray came in with this plant? Also remember that things like ceramic plant pots can carry various residues into the aquarium too.>
Temp is around 26.5 ~ 27 degree Celsius.
<OK.>
Adults pond have 1 big and 2 small filters. Babies ponds don't have filter at this moment.
<Ah, this isn't going to work in the long term... or even the short term. I'd have at the very least a decent canister filter working here.>
All ponds do not have heater as my country's (Singapore) climate is pretty warm unless there's storm in the night then perhaps the water temp might be slight cooler.
<Sounds fine.>
What other things should we take note of?
<Nothing obviously remiss here, except the lack of filter on the pond with the juvenile fish. I'd perhaps check the nitrite/nitrate levels first, and then also consider whether the diet offered to the juveniles is sufficiently balanced. Do also consider extrinsic factors, e.g., pesticide sprays, paint fumes, cooking fumes. Use of activated charcoal to remove any potential toxins from the water might be worthwhile if these are suspected. Consider running tests for chlorine and copper, both of which are very toxic to Stingrays, and likely more so to juveniles than adults.>
Please advise.
<There's really not much more to say. Generally if Stingrays are happy, they breed. And if water conditions are good enough for breeding, the juveniles are comparatively easy to rear. You could separate off one or two of the youngsters to an aquarium where you can control water quality/chemistry more easily.>
Thank you very much!! :)
Regards,
Qianling
<Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Regarding Freshwater Stingrays' Babies. 7/17/2008
Hi Neale,
Again Thank you!! :)
<Most welcome.>
Will inform my dad about all these issues that he has to take note of. He's still considered as a newbie in rearing stingrays though he does have a few more experience people with him however they seem totally unsure what to do about the babies.
<Very good. The thing is to experiment. Healthy fish will produce many batches of babies, so you can test out different ideas each time until you find a system that works for you.>
You have been a fascinating help!! :)
Last question that got me seriously curious about these rays..
<Yes?>
How does one feed them one by one? using hand? or those stick like thing to put the food in? Won't they be uncomfortable with the stick like thing?
<Simply placing live foods at the bottom of the aquarium should be enough to get the juveniles feeding. Bloodworms and other small invertebrates would be the ideal. Small earthworms seem to be especially favoured by Stingrays (and indeed fish generally!). Frozen foods may work too. Surprisingly perhaps, I find using forceps or other tools to hand feed fish works rather well. Fish seem to accept an inanimate object much more readily than me sticking my arm into the tank.>
Oops another... Can the babies eat what the adults are eating?
<Pretty much the same stuff, but smaller in size of course.>
Thank you very much!! :)
Regards,
Qianling
<You are welcome! Good luck, and how about some photos? Cheers, Neale.>