Bullnose eagle ray

alprazo · 10/20/2017, 08:50 PM

I thought I would share a new species for RC.
She is a neonate, 12 inches across. She had a fresh umbilical wound at capture. Typically their diet consists of hermit crabs, snails and some small mollusks. Fortunately I had availability of all three of these for about a month while adapting her to captivity. She will likely double in size as the will get up to 24" across. I've had her since mid august, still in QT with some lookdowns going through the same regimen. She is hand feeding and doing quite well. Excited to share a creature that rarely makes it to the private and even the public aquaria.

caribfan · 10/21/2017, 07:30 AM

So cool man, what’s the final tank size going to be?

alprazo · 10/21/2017, 07:57 AM

My tank is 9' *17' * 3'. Will probably keep isolated in QT until I need it for something else.

Kremis · 10/21/2017, 10:29 AM

17 foot by 9 foot tank ?!?!??!?! wow. super cool ray

Dmorty217 · 10/21/2017, 01:15 PM

Very cool stuff. Excited to see her in your 3000g!

Bobbitworm13 · 10/21/2017, 03:32 PM

Very cool, I've seen these guys while fishing and diving

alprazo · 10/21/2017, 06:33 PM

I’ve worked with cownose ray pups in the past but never decided to keep one more than a few days. The were always too active for my comfort. As seen in the video, this is a slow swimming ray that rests about 50% of the time. Graceful in its movements but does seem to lack to very aggressive eating habits and personality that makes the cownose and bat ray do so well in captivity. Even though it hand feeds, I worry about its ability to compete in my aquarium. Time will tell, but for now she will likely stay in the 8 ft tub until next summer.

McPuff · 10/25/2017, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alprazo

My tank is 9' *17' * 3'. Will probably keep isolated in QT until I need it for something else.

Wow, please post some pics and/or video of this! Sounds very cool.

The ray looks terrific. What a cool and unique acquisition.

thomashtom · 11/08/2017, 11:05 PM

very cool, what size tank do they need?

alprazo · 11/10/2017, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomashtom

very cool, what size tank do they need?

Not sure. Doing really well in 8 foot qt right now. I imagine she will have some years in my big tank. If she out grows it, a friend is dying to take her for his 16 ft pool.

Jekerry · 11/10/2017, 10:04 AM

Wow!

humaguy · 11/10/2017, 03:57 PM

so cool, they look great!

alprazo · 11/16/2017, 08:48 PM

Just an observation. I had been feeding the ray to satiation twice a day. Usually a whole chopped 4 inch menhaden (head off) or two table shrimp. It seems like a lot for such a small animal. Last week I just happened to noticed how thin she had become and her cartilaginous prominences were easily visible on her back. I increased the feeds to 3x and sometimes 4x a day and I leave plenty of left over food in the tank for her after feeding. She has added weight and looks much better. It is clear to me that the neonates need to be fed quite frequently.

Monkeyfish · 11/20/2017, 10:32 AM

@alprazo

Any recent pics/threads with your 3000g aquarium? Would love to see it.

McPuff · 11/21/2017, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkeyfish

@alprazo

Any recent pics/threads with your 3000g aquarium? Would love to see it.

I second that!

10/20/2017, 08:50 PM	#1
alprazo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,695 Blog Entries: 4	Bullnose eagle ray I thought I would share a new species for RC. She is a neonate, 12 inches across. She had a fresh umbilical wound at capture. Typically their diet consists of hermit crabs, snails and some small mollusks. Fortunately I had availability of all three of these for about a month while adapting her to captivity. She will likely double in size as the will get up to 24" across. I've had her since mid august, still in QT with some lookdowns going through the same regimen. She is hand feeding and doing quite well. Excited to share a creature that rarely makes it to the private and even the public aquaria. __________________ NOT Moved on.

10/21/2017, 07:30 AM	#2
caribfan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1,922	So cool man, what’s the final tank size going to be? __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 50 Breeder Quarantine Tank, 240 Miracles Finally up and running, 29 Biocube - AI Nano

10/21/2017, 07:57 AM	#3
alprazo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,695 Blog Entries: 4	My tank is 9' 17' 3'. Will probably keep isolated in QT until I need it for something else. __________________ NOT Moved on.

10/21/2017, 01:15 PM	#5
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Very cool stuff. Excited to see her in your 3000g! __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

10/21/2017, 06:33 PM	#7
alprazo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,695 Blog Entries: 4	I’ve worked with cownose ray pups in the past but never decided to keep one more than a few days. The were always too active for my comfort. As seen in the video, this is a slow swimming ray that rests about 50% of the time. Graceful in its movements but does seem to lack to very aggressive eating habits and personality that makes the cownose and bat ray do so well in captivity. Even though it hand feeds, I worry about its ability to compete in my aquarium. Time will tell, but for now she will likely stay in the 8 ft tub until next summer. __________________ NOT Moved on.

10/21/2017, 10:29 AM	#4
Kremis Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 799	17 foot by 9 foot tank ?!?!??!?! wow. super cool ray

10/21/2017, 03:32 PM	#6
Bobbitworm13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Russell Springs, KY Posts: 330	Very cool, I've seen these guys while fishing and diving

11/08/2017, 11:05 PM	#9
thomashtom Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 70	very cool, what size tank do they need?

11/10/2017, 10:04 AM	#11
Jekerry Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 205	Wow!

11/10/2017, 03:57 PM	#12
humaguy Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Western Ct, NYC Posts: 8,218	so cool, they look great!

11/16/2017, 08:48 PM	#13
alprazo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,695 Blog Entries: 4	Just an observation. I had been feeding the ray to satiation twice a day. Usually a whole chopped 4 inch menhaden (head off) or two table shrimp. It seems like a lot for such a small animal. Last week I just happened to noticed how thin she had become and her cartilaginous prominences were easily visible on her back. I increased the feeds to 3x and sometimes 4x a day and I leave plenty of left over food in the tank for her after feeding. She has added weight and looks much better. It is clear to me that the neonates need to be fed quite frequently. __________________ NOT Moved on.

11/20/2017, 10:32 AM	#14
Monkeyfish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Long Island (NY) Posts: 4,077	@alprazo Any recent pics/threads with your 3000g aquarium? Would love to see it. __________________ Eric "One thing that humbles me deeply is to see that human genius has its limits while human stupidity does not." Current Tank Info: Taking a break