Shark and ray adding

[fishguy777]

Tank is 7’ by 26” by 26”

I’m interested in buying two sharks and a rat for my aquarium, I’ve read up on all listed species.

I’m trying to add these two to my tank

Horn shark, I have a store that gets 7” ones
epaulette shark, I will get an ORA captive bred one.

There is an LFS nearby that specializes in sharks and rays, I plan to buy a blue dot ray from.

How fast will each shark get to 30”? If they do.

How active is the ray? Constant swimmer? Only comes out at feeding? So not active you have to spot feed so they eat?

If for some reason the shark/s and ray appear not happy in my tank, I have an aquarium that takes donations like 10 minutes away from me. OR I will set up a large pond in my basement for them. I am following the same plan for my hi fin snapper, and naso tang.

For tank makes
Hi fin snapper 8”
Naso tang 9”
Magnificent foxface 7”
Powder blue tang 3”
Purple tang 4”
Polleni grouper 5”
Aussie harlequin tusk
Male banana wrasse
A couple tangs
Pair of blue throat triggers
Blue reef chromis
bi color goatfish
A few large mexican turbo snails


I understand the risk with triggers and sharks, but my blue throat is very passive, and Is the reef safe

My tank is extremely over filtered, skimmer is rated for 4X the size. Large UV, and other miscellaneous filtration items. I test my water daily.

(In the pic there is two angels, I’m removing both of them for the sharks.)

Both caves are hollow, so large open caves.

 

[Jekyl]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[Dom]

Will that tank be big enough?

 

[fishguy777]

Will that tank be big enough?

If they outgrows, I have room for a pond, and a local aquarium nearby that I can donate too

 

[fishguy777]

Tank is 7’ by 26” by 26”

I’m interested in buying two sharks and a rat for my aquarium, I’ve read up on all listed species.

I’m trying to add these two to my tank

Horn shark, I have a store that gets 7” ones
epaulette shark, I will get an ORA captive bred one.

There is an LFS nearby that specializes in sharks and rays, I plan to buy a blue dot ray from.

How fast will each shark get to 30”? If they do.

How active is the ray? Constant swimmer? Only comes out at feeding? So not active you have to spot feed so they eat?

If for some reason the shark/s and ray appear not happy in my tank, I have an aquarium that takes donations like 10 minutes away from me. OR I will set up a large pond in my basement for them. I am following the same plan for my hi fin snapper, and naso tang.

For tank makes
Hi fin snapper 8”
Naso tang 9”
Magnificent foxface 7”
Powder blue tang 3”
Purple tang 4”
Polleni grouper 5”
Aussie harlequin tusk
Male banana wrasse
A couple tangs
Pair of blue throat triggers
Blue reef chromis
bi color goatfish
A few large mexican turbo snails


I understand the risk with triggers and sharks, but my blue throat is very passive, and Is the reef safe

My tank is extremely over filtered, skimmer is rated for 4X the size. Large UV, and other miscellaneous filtration items. I test my water daily.

(In the pic there is two angels, I’m removing both of them for the sharks.)

Both caves are hollow, so large open caves.

All I’m asking is how fast they grow, and if they’re okay with my tank mates

 

[Jekyl]

All I’m asking is how fast they grow, and if they’re okay with my tank mates

Give some time for Jay to answer. Can't find a better person to ask.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Tank is 7’ by 26” by 26”

I’m interested in buying two sharks and a rat for my aquarium, I’ve read up on all listed species.

I’m trying to add these two to my tank

Horn shark, I have a store that gets 7” ones
epaulette shark, I will get an ORA captive bred one.

There is an LFS nearby that specializes in sharks and rays, I plan to buy a blue dot ray from.

How fast will each shark get to 30”? If they do.

How active is the ray? Constant swimmer? Only comes out at feeding? So not active you have to spot feed so they eat?

If for some reason the shark/s and ray appear not happy in my tank, I have an aquarium that takes donations like 10 minutes away from me. OR I will set up a large pond in my basement for them. I am following the same plan for my hi fin snapper, and naso tang.

For tank makes
Hi fin snapper 8”
Naso tang 9”
Magnificent foxface 7”
Powder blue tang 3”
Purple tang 4”
Polleni grouper 5”
Aussie harlequin tusk
Male banana wrasse
A couple tangs
Pair of blue throat triggers
Blue reef chromis
bi color goatfish
A few large mexican turbo snails


I understand the risk with triggers and sharks, but my blue throat is very passive, and Is the reef safe

My tank is extremely over filtered, skimmer is rated for 4X the size. Large UV, and other miscellaneous filtration items. I test my water daily.

(In the pic there is two angels, I’m removing both of them for the sharks.)

Both caves are hollow, so large open caves.

Just some general advice: horn sharks, even the Mexican species, prefer temperate water. I’d opt for a coral cat shark or a tank raised epaulette.
There are two species of bluespot ray - round and diamond. The round ones are really delicate, I’d opt for the diamond one. I think those are kuhli rays.

 

[Kasrift]

Tank is 7’ by 26” by 26”

I’m interested in buying two sharks and a rat for my aquarium, I’ve read up on all listed species.

I’m trying to add these two to my tank

Horn shark, I have a store that gets 7” ones
epaulette shark, I will get an ORA captive bred one.

There is an LFS nearby that specializes in sharks and rays, I plan to buy a blue dot ray from.

How fast will each shark get to 30”? If they do.

How active is the ray? Constant swimmer? Only comes out at feeding? So not active you have to spot feed so they eat?

If for some reason the shark/s and ray appear not happy in my tank, I have an aquarium that takes donations like 10 minutes away from me. OR I will set up a large pond in my basement for them. I am following the same plan for my hi fin snapper, and naso tang.

For tank makes
Hi fin snapper 8”
Naso tang 9”
Magnificent foxface 7”
Powder blue tang 3”
Purple tang 4”
Polleni grouper 5”
Aussie harlequin tusk
Male banana wrasse
A couple tangs
Pair of blue throat triggers
Blue reef chromis
bi color goatfish
A few large mexican turbo snails


I understand the risk with triggers and sharks, but my blue throat is very passive, and Is the reef safe

My tank is extremely over filtered, skimmer is rated for 4X the size. Large UV, and other miscellaneous filtration items. I test my water daily.

(In the pic there is two angels, I’m removing both of them for the sharks.)

Both caves are hollow, so large open caves.

Not sure if Rats are reef safe. You could ask @pandaparties on his experience with rays and sharks though in his 300g he is breaking down.

 

[fishguy777]

Just some general advice: horn sharks, even the Mexican species, prefer temperate water. I’d opt for a coral cat shark or a tank raised epaulette.
There are two species of bluespot ray - round and diamond. The round ones are really delicate, I’d opt for the diamond one. I think those are kuhli rays.

I keep my tanks at 72 now, the fish don’t mind. I read the horn shark can do up to 72, I’m guessing I’m wrong?

And then for the ray, I have a reliable source for the round blue spot, how difficult is it? It seems like the diamond one gets way too big

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I keep my tanks at 72 now, the fish don’t mind. I read the horn shark can do up to 72, I’m guessing I’m wrong?

And then for the ray, I have a reliable source for the round blue spot, how difficult is it? It seems like the diamond one gets way too big

Thanks for the reply!

72 is fine for horn sharks. I keep them between 65 and 72.

Let the dealer hold the round blue spot ray for you as long as you can, the majority of issues arise due to shipping stress. If the dealers has it for a few weeks and it is eating well, it is a much safer option. Don’t buy any ray that has curled pectoral fins.

 

[fishguy777]

Will do, thank you!

 

[fishguy777]

72 is fine for horn sharks. I keep them between 65 and 72.

Let the dealer hold the round blue spot ray for you as long as you can, the majority of issues arise due to shipping stress. If the dealers has it for a few weeks and it is eating well, it is a much safer option. Don’t buy any ray that has curled pectoral fins.

Hi jay, I ended up getting the ray at the end of August-great experience until today, I am noticing black speckles on his underside (worms?) and small Dalmatian spots on his top side

I have also seen him do what I imagine is scratching recently.

Is this a common thing with them? How should I treat?

My display tank is 7’ by 26” by 26”, I also have a plastic 50 gal tub that I could put him in to treat. I would much rather treat the display though.

He is still eating very well, eating right out of my hand, first one to the top, etc.

Thankyou

 

[EliMelly]

Hi jay, I ended up getting the ray at the end of August-great experience until today, I am noticing black speckles on his underside (worms?) and small Dalmatian spots on his top side

I have also seen him do what I imagine is scratching recently.

Is this a common thing with them? How should I treat?

My display tank is 7’ by 26” by 26”, I also have a plastic 50 gal tub that I could put him in to treat. I would much rather treat the display though.

He is still eating very well, eating right out of my hand, first one to the top, etc.

Thankyou

Can you add some pics of the tank? Would love to see what it looks like.

 

[fishguy777]

Can you add some pics of the tank? Would love to see what it looks like.

This is the only one I have rn-will get better ones tmr

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi jay, I ended up getting the ray at the end of August-great experience until today, I am noticing black speckles on his underside (worms?) and small Dalmatian spots on his top side

I have also seen him do what I imagine is scratching recently.

Is this a common thing with them? How should I treat?

My display tank is 7’ by 26” by 26”, I also have a plastic 50 gal tub that I could put him in to treat. I would much rather treat the display though.

He is still eating very well, eating right out of my hand, first one to the top, etc.

Thankyou

Rays are prone to a number of external parasites that are not seen in bony fishes. It sounds like your ray could have two different issues - the "dalmatian spots" are light or dark colored? Rays get a crustacean infection that causes blanching around each parasite (which are clear and cannot really be seen). The spots underneath could be a turbellarian worm or a fluke. Treating these issues is tough because rays don't tolerate common treatments like hyposalinity or Dylox.

I don't suppose you can get pictures of both of the spots?
Can you get access to any formalin?

 

[fishguy777]

Rays are prone to a number of external parasites that are not seen in bony fishes. It sounds like your ray could have two different issues - the "dalmatian spots" are light or dark colored? Rays get a crustacean infection that causes blanching around each parasite (which are clear and cannot really be seen). The spots underneath could be a turbellarian worm or a fluke. Treating these issues is tough because rays don't tolerate common treatments like hyposalinity or Dylox.

I don't suppose you can get pictures of both of the spots?
Can you get access to any formalin?

Was at school all day-just got this
On the top there are few, small, and light.

Today I see the black speckles on the surface of his skin, I think it’s probably worms then as don’t flukes sit a bit under?

I’ll have pictures of him in 1-2hours, water is kinda cloudy rn and I can’t get a good picture-doing a water change now

 

[fishguy777]

Rays are prone to a number of external parasites that are not seen in bony fishes. It sounds like your ray could have two different issues - the "dalmatian spots" are light or dark colored? Rays get a crustacean infection that causes blanching around each parasite (which are clear and cannot really be seen). The spots underneath could be a turbellarian worm or a fluke. Treating these issues is tough because rays don't tolerate common treatments like hyposalinity or Dylox.

I don't suppose you can get pictures of both of the spots?
Can you get access to any formalin?

The dalmation spots look like faded spots of a dalmation. (I see like 3-4) the other ones look like blackhead acne. Top and bottom of him now, I just fed him

 

[fishguy777]

Rays are prone to a number of external parasites that are not seen in bony fishes. It sounds like your ray could have two different issues - the "dalmatian spots" are light or dark colored? Rays get a crustacean infection that causes blanching around each parasite (which are clear and cannot really be seen). The spots underneath could be a turbellarian worm or a fluke. Treating these issues is tough because rays don't tolerate common treatments like hyposalinity or Dylox.

I don't suppose you can get pictures of both of the spots?
Can you get access to any formalin?

I think the dalmation spots were parasites under the skin, that rose to the top. As there is just the blackhead thing now

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I think the dalmation spots were parasites under the skin, that rose to the top. As there is just the blackhead thing now

Tough to say, I can’t clearly see any blanching that would indicate the presence of crustacean parasites. The issue could be flukes, leeches or turbellarian worms. You could try prazi - that would help against flukes. Leeches or turbellarians would require a formalin dip and then moving the fish to a new, parasite free tank, to allow any parasites in the tank to die from lack of a host.

 

[fishguy777]

Tough to say, I can’t clearly see any blanching that would indicate the presence of crustacean parasites. The issue could be flukes, leeches or turbellarian worms. You could try prazi - that would help against flukes. Leeches or turbellarians would require a formalin dip and then moving the fish to a new, parasite free tank, to allow any parasites in the tank to die from lack of a host.

Would the move be just the ray, or all my fish? Inverts too?

Only other tanks/spaces I have is a 65 that was previously exposed to copper and a 50 gallon tub.