Blue Dot Stingrays

[Feet4Fish]

Anyone out there have experience with these gorgeous creature? Want to know the viability of successful (many years) care!

 

[tehmadreefer]

The easiest and most available ray for the home aquarium

 

[Feet4Fish]

Have you kept one? I am setting up a 650 display and seriously considering one.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Nope just kept sharks but in all reality there are only 2 rays suitable or easily attainable for home aquariums and the blue dot is the better one.
Just keep it fed, no different than fish...

 

[bluedevils6653]

The easiest and most available ray for the home aquarium

I will respectfully disagree with that statement. They are one of the more difficult species. You can do a quick search on here and see they are difficult to get to eat initially and they could seem fine and then the next day are dead. Cortez and yellow rays are pretty hardy and common. I would choose one of those before trying a blue spot imo.

 

[bluedevils6653]

The easiest and most available ray for the home aquarium

I will respectfully disagree with that statement. They are one of the more difficult species. You can do a quick search on here and see they are difficult to get to eat initially and they could seem fine and then the next day are dead. Cortez and yellow rays are pretty hardy and common. I would choose one of those before trying a blue spot imo.

 

[Feet4Fish]

Do you have experience with Cortez and yellows?

I will respectfully disagree with that statement. They are one of the more difficult species. You can do a quick search on here and see they are difficult to get to eat initially and they could seem fine and then the next day are dead. Cortez and yellow rays are pretty hardy and common. I would choose one of those before trying a blue spot imo.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I sold them at my former pet store. Thick very soft sand bed. Easy to feed. . . . . squid, squid, silversides and shrimp. Water quality is a must also

 

[bluedevils6653]

Do you have experience with Cortez and yellows?

Yes i have kept both along with coral cat sharks and white spotted bamboo sharks. I have kept sharks/rays for about 6-7 years or so but I had to take down my tank a couple years ago for a move and haven't got around to setting up another large setup. If your set on a blue spotted ray try and find one thats already established and is eating well. But theres always exceptions though you may get one from your lfs and it does great for you. But generally speaking they are one of the more difficult species for long term success. Let me know if you have any questions!

 

[Feet4Fish]

@vetteguy53081 Would 4" bed be deep enough? Water filtration shouldn't be an issue. Will be micron filtered, heavily skimmed with a large ATS. In your experience wouldn't the angels likely nip?

I sold them at my former pet store. Thick very soft sand bed. Easy to feed. . . . . squid, squid, silversides and shrimp. Water quality is a must also

 

[Feet4Fish]

A somewhat local LFS, gerbers in Dayton, has one and based on the size i think he has been there for some time. That is the only way I would get a blue dot is that if I can find one that has been at an LFS for over 3 months so I know he is accepting food

Yes i have kept both along with coral cat sharks and white spotted bamboo sharks. I have kept sharks/rays for about 6-7 years or so but I had to take down my tank a couple years ago for a move and haven't got around to setting up another large setup. If your set on a blue spotted ray try and find one thats already established and is eating well. But theres always exceptions though you may get one from your lfs and it does great for you. But generally speaking they are one of the more difficult species for long term success. Let me know if you have any questions!

 

[vetteguy53081]

@vetteguy53081 Would 4" bed be deep enough? Water filtration shouldn't be an issue. Will be micron filtered, heavily skimmed with a large ATS. In your experience wouldn't the angels likely nip?

4" = yes

 

[Bob Weigant]

I did keep one for about 3-4 months. Ate well and then just died out of nowhere

 

[TheOne]

I bought a 240 gallon tank to setup for Blue Dot Stingrays and after doing more research I decided it was a bad idea and sold the tank. There was someone online at the time that had some in an above ground pool in their basement that was really cool.

 

[bluedevils6653]

I did keep one for about 3-4 months. Ate well and then just died out of nowhere

Perfect example of what usually happens

 

[Thomashtom]

Had several blue dot, one lived 8 months, one 1 months and 1 a little over a year. Better off with cortez.

 

[mort]

I've not kept them but know two people that have had three between them. I think the longest latest about 8 months before it died. They simply went from looking great to being dead in a day or two apart from one that we think died of a bacterial infection (one of his butterflies nipped at it).
They do need a large sand area and make sure you add other fish carefully so they don't affect it.

 

[Gareth elliott]

If want to get into rays there are more success stories with freshwater motoro rays than saltwater, most these days are even captive bred.

They do get upto 40” in diameter, reticulata are about half that size.

Just something to keep in mind, they are still poisonous like their saltwater cousins. Just seem to fare better in a square box.

example of one.

 

[Feet4Fish]

Have you kept Cortez? How long did the survive under your care?

Had several blue dot, one lived 8 months, one 1 months and 1 a little over a year. Better off with cortez.

 

[Krj-2501]

Well - the round stingrays(genus- Urobatis) - Cortez, Yellow, & California round stingrays tend to be the hardiest species, and therefor easiest to keep. Pretty much rivaling the freshwater river(Potamotrygonidae) stingrays. But the round stingrays also tend to be similar is size to smaller species of river stingrays - usually in the range of 10-16" disc width, 16-24" total length.