Are blue spot stingrays actually that bad

[Zach136378]

Hi everyone I am getting a huge 800 gallon tank soon and I was wondering are ribbontail rays actually that bad. I have had one before he was perfect and he had no fuss eating him for about two months. The only reason why I had him for only two months is because the one that I had did not like me dozing one of red Sea products which was the algea control one and this caused him to go into a small place in the rocks where he couldn’t really fit and he got a big infection and he ended up dying I’m not too sure how we even got there. It was really not that big of the space no stingray should even be able to fit in there Other than that He wasn’t actually that bad and I just wanted to see if any other people have opinions because I am looking to get another one, when I get my new tank, the one that I had was very small it was only about like 6 inches disc diameter and my tank was very open. It is 6ft by 2ft by 2ft with a 4 foot by 2ft open sand space this is in the UK and I’m not too sure if they struggle in America more than the UK because my one really wasn’t that bad. It was not harder than my shark to keep

Here he is

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi everyone I am getting a huge 800 gallon tank soon and I was wondering are ribbontail rays actually that bad. I have had one before he was perfect and he had no fuss eating him for about two months. The only reason why I had him for only two months is because the one that I had did not like me dozing one of red Sea products which was the algea control one and this caused him to go into a small place in the rocks where he couldn’t really fit and he got a big infection and he ended up dying I’m not too sure how we even got there. It was really not that big of the space no stingray should even be able to fit in there Other than that He wasn’t actually that bad and I just wanted to see if any other people have opinions because I am looking to get another one, when I get my new tank, the one that I had was very small it was only about like 6 inches disc diameter and my tank was very open. It is 6ft by 2ft by 2ft with a 4 foot by 2ft open sand space this is in the UK and I’m not too sure if they struggle in America more than the UK because my one really wasn’t that bad. It was not harder than my shark to keep

Here he is

Blue spot ribbon tail rays ship poorly and have a high mortality rate coming out of SE Asia. The blue diamond ray is hardier.

If you want another blue spot, you’ll want to see that it is eating well before you buy it.

 

[Australian_Reef]

So other than dying your ray wasn’t that bad?

 

[The Ugly Phase]

So other than dying your ray wasn’t that bad?

best comment of 2025 that made me lol

 

[Australian_Reef]

best comment of 2025 that made me lol

Got in just in time

 

[Zach136378]

no that’s not what I meant when I had it it was not how people had said they are mine ate almost immediately and it only died cause of something that was easily preventable by me if you don’t have advice why are you even on this thread I was looking for advice thank you jay for giving me a proper response.

 

[El Maestro]

Google says they grow to 28 inches and you want to put it a tank with 4’x2’ open sandbed…you already had one die by “accident “. This is a poor idea, I don’t understand the appeal of getting a fish that will rapidly out grow your tank. At least when people buy a tang for a too small tank there is a decent chance of rehoming it depending on the species.

 

[Zach136378]

It was I didn’t realise that the ray would react so badly with Red Sea supplements which are completely fine to use with my small shark. They are very similar so I would assume that it wouldn’t have much effect on the stingray. Also the one that I had was mini it was no bigger than 6 inches disc size and it had a lot of room. It had more than half the tank of sand bed which was about what you said but I anint getting a full grown one I would be getting a small one like the one I showed cause they get super pricey when bigger and also the tank that I am getting I’m not gonna be waiting like three years to get it. It will be like a year and that tank will have way more space I could possibly fit 6 feet by maybe 3 feet space sand so space will be completely fine and I don’t think a small stingray that is like 6 inches disc would outgrow it cause I believe they grow pretty slow.

 

[El Maestro]

I’m not a stingray expert but a 6 inch disk means a 6 inch tail too so 12 inches. I think you keep saying 6 inches instead of 12 inches (the actual length) because it makes it feel less icky. I was trying to be nice before, but you seem to be in denial. What you are planning won’t work and is inhumane/ poorly thought out. I have a 40 breeder it is 3’ foot by 1.5’. I would never put a 9” fish in there no matter how lazy of a swimmer, it is unethical and in my opinion would look ridiculous. If you put a 1’ fish in a space that is 2’ on one side because you think you are going to get a new bigger tank next year it will be in too small of an environment for the entire year and be stressed.

I’ll confess I have no experience with any sharks rays though, why don’t you call up your local zoo/aquarium and ask someone with first hand experience? I doubt there’s many people in this forum with experience putting a 1’ fish into a 4’x2’ swimming space.

From Wikipedia: ”Its attractive appearance and relatively small size has resulted in its being the most common stingray found in the home aquarium trade.[34] It seldom fares well in captivity and few hobbyists are able to maintain one for long.[12] Many specimens refuse to feed in the aquarium, and seemingly healthy individuals often inexplicably die or stop feeding.”

 

[Australian_Reef]

May I ask, how do you know it was the additive product that caused the death?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi everyone I am getting a huge 800 gallon tank soon and I was wondering are ribbontail rays actually that bad. I have had one before he was perfect and he had no fuss eating him for about two months. The only reason why I had him for only two months is because the one that I had did not like me dozing one of red Sea products which was the algea control one and this caused him to go into a small place in the rocks where he couldn’t really fit and he got a big infection and he ended up dying I’m not too sure how we even got there. It was really not that big of the space no stingray should even be able to fit in there Other than that He wasn’t actually that bad and I just wanted to see if any other people have opinions because I am looking to get another one, when I get my new tank, the one that I had was very small it was only about like 6 inches disc diameter and my tank was very open. It is 6ft by 2ft by 2ft with a 4 foot by 2ft open sand space this is in the UK and I’m not too sure if they struggle in America more than the UK because my one really wasn’t that bad. It was not harder than my shark to keep

Here he is

A 6" would have a 6" body and a 9" is 9" body which is how I ordered them for my LFS. I agree they ship poorly and are a Florida species which there is a challenge to get them eating continuously. They in my observations are sensitive to changes in water quality, otherwise they are very striking in color

 

[Zach136378]

May I ask, how do you know it was the additive product that caused the death?

Cause he was completely fine and then when I bought the additive he started acting weird and would not eat he did survive one day with it. The ray never acted like that and after a few days started to act normal again if it was not the supplement then I don’t know what it was cause the ray would not just act normal again overnight when it looked really bad

 

[Zach136378]

May I ask, how do you know it was the additive product that caused the death?

Cause he was completely fine and then when I bought the additive he started acting weird and would not eat he did survive one day with it. The ray never acted like that and after a few days started to act normal again if it was not the supplement then I don’t know what it was cause the ray would not just act normal again overnight

I’m not a stingray expert but a 6 inch disk means a 6 inch tail too so 12 inches. I think you keep saying 6 inches instead of 12 inches (the actual length) because it makes it feel less icky. I was trying to be nice before, but you seem to be in denial. What you are planning won’t work and is inhumane/ poorly thought out. I have a 40 breeder it is 3’ foot by 1.5’. I would never put a 9” fish in there no matter how lazy of a swimmer, it is unethical and in my opinion would look ridiculous. If you put a 1’ fish in a space that is 2’ on one side because you think you are going to get a new bigger tank next year it will be in too small of an environment for the entire year and be stressed.

I’ll confess I have no experience with any sharks rays though, why don’t you call up your local zoo/aquarium and ask someone with first hand experience? I doubt there’s many people in this forum with experience putting a 1’ fish into a 4’x2’ swimming space.

From Wikipedia: ”Its attractive appearance and relatively small size has resulted in its being the most common stingray found in the home aquarium trade.[34] It seldom fares well in captivity and few hobbyists are able to maintain one for long.[12] Many specimens refuse to feed in the aquarium, and seemingly healthy individuals often inexplicably die or stop feeding.”

I believe he was about 10 inches long including the tail I am saying 6 inches cause that’s the disc size of the ray also it is not a 4’ x 2’ that’s the flat sand area most of the other space was for him to hide