tank mates for a couple of rays

[Earthgirl]

Hello all
I am planning on selling my 72 gallon bow front and gonna buy a 120-130 gallon tank.
I love dealing with the guys at a lfs in St. Albert and the one guy (the one I love to deal with) said I could have some motro rays in.

So what else could I have with them?

I am planning on getting a shovel nose cat (I love CFC's) and maybe an arowana. I have a BGK, and was maybe gonna keep the gold nugget.
Gonna keep the congo tetras to cycle (with the water from the 72 gallon)

I know this is a dumb question, but can I keep my banjo catfish? I say no, but still wanted to ask.
TY in advance

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

A banjo cat can be eaten by a fully grown motoro, and neither an arowana, the motoros, and maybe not even the BGK can be kept in that tank for life...

 

[DannyBoy17]

I disagree. What kind of arowanna?

I think those fish will work, but sometimes plecos will suck on the stingrays and cause damage, so you may want to rethink that one.

Cheers.

DB

 

[Raechal]

A BGK can't be kept in a 120-130 gallon for life? I am pretty sure it can.

 

[ryan]

The tank isn't big enough for any of the Arowana species which will require a minimum of 180gallons (6x2x2) for the smallest species, with the largest species the Silver Arowana requiring around 300gallons. Rays require a tank with a large footprint of at least 4'x2', but for Motoros you should be looking at at least 5x2x2, especailly if you want more than one ray. The Golden Nugget may be abit of a risk as Plecos have been known to suck fishes slime coatings, like the Rays, but this is by no means always the case and is just a warning.

 

[spAcE mOnkEy]

if i were going to keep rays, i would just do a species tank of JUST rays. that way i could focus on the care of just them, and do waterchanges and changing water conditions around, and only worrying about the rays. Rays are very sensitive to water conditions, i also think the substrate should be sand. so, if i were to ever set up a ray tank in my life, i would do a couple rays, and mayb some type of schooling fish that stays at the top of the water.

 

[Earthgirl]

hmmmmm, ok how about rays, BGK, snovel nose cat, and a leaf fish (if there is one around here )?

What do you all think?

 

[Paul_MTS]

first off whats going to be the dimensions of the tank? like ryan stated the footprint is very important to rays as this is where they spend all there time.

and what type of shovel nose cat? there's loads!!

 

[Oddball]

Myabe a type of garfish if you get a larger footprint, try hujetas or the needle fish, maybe a type of knife would be nice but again its footprint area, hmmmm perhaps a more tupical type of fish such as discus, arulius barbs or uarus?

 

[Paul_MTS]

geophasus also make good tank mates.

 

[ryan]

hmmmmm, ok how about rays, BGK, snovel nose cat, and a leaf fish (if there is one around here )?

What do you all think?

Certainly not Leaf Fish, anything not big enough to be considered prey will intimidate them and they will refuse to feed. They will almost certainly require live foods aswell.

In Shovelnose terms, if you are thinking along the lines of Sorubim Limas or Hemisorubim platyrhynchos then you should be fine.

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

A BGK can't be kept in a 120-130 gallon for life? I am pretty sure it can.

Don't be. They get to 26", and would be uncomfortable in a tank of that size when fully grown.

 

[Earthgirl]

TY everyone for the advice, much appreciated!

I have not bough the tank, but I sure as hell know what to look for.

BGG, you are sure that a bgk would out grow a 130 gallon?
hmmmm
I wish that more store would have that warning (ie stoopid petsmart). I knew that they got big, and was always planning on upgrading from the 72 gallon, but I had to stop a family from buying one, cause they thought it would look cute in their 30 gallon
Anyways, back to researching!

 

[CFC]

When was the last time anyone saw a 26" BGK? Come to think of it has anyone ever seen a BGK over 18 inches?

 

[Oddball]

Yay cfc's off strike hurrah! and i do agree, ive never seen a bgk that big!