Rays/Sharks Tankmates

[pandaparties]

So I am in the process of getting a custom tank built (9ftx3ftx2ft, total gallonage w/ sump close to 500) and was wanting to get a ray or a shark with some small mixed reef stuff around. I think it's enough space for one of them but I am wondering if i could get away with having one of each (one small species ray like cortez/bluering and small species shark like a catshark or epaulette) and if they would get along.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Cortez Rays get along well with coral catsharks, and those don’t get too big, so that would be a good choice. Avoid fish that pick - cleaner wrasse, angels, heniochus, etc will go after the rays eyes.
Jay

 

[pandaparties]

Cortez Rays get along well with coral catsharks, and those don’t get too big, so that would be a good choice. Avoid fish that pick - cleaner wrasse, angels, heniochus, etc will go after the rays eyes.
Jay

So good to know! Do you think that tank size is large enough to accommodate both?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Sure - even a couple of each, with room for other fish. Epaulettes might get a little too large. Bamboos surely will get too big.
Jay

 

[Krj-2501]

The Cortez & yellow stingrays would be a excellent choice. The blue ringed(blue spotted Ribbontail) is a very poor choice(not very hardy).

As for the sharks - Coral catsharks(Atelomycterus marmoratus) or any species of the Atelomycterus catshark(Bali catsharks(A. baliensis), Spotted Belly Catsharks(A. erdmanni), or Australian Marbled Catsharks(A. macleayi) would be a great choice. You could keep them as a small group of 2-3 sharks in that tank. As for bamboos or epaulettes - the smaller species like Gray Bamboo(Chiloscyllium griseum), Arabian Bamboo (C. arabicum), or Speckled Epaulette (Hemiscyllium trispeculare) would be good choices.

 

[WheatToast]

I know it's not a ray or shark... but what about a peacock flounder (Bothus mancus)? It might eat small ornamental invertebrates and fish but I would assume it's a good (and odd) sand stirrer.