cortez ray swimming funny

[kickboxer0213]

i need help, my wife bought me a ray for my birthday on Saturday ( my birthday was yesterday) everything was going good till today. i was hand feeding it and it was refusing 2 eat and was swimming weird and then rest on its back. i tested my water and pH was 8.0. ammonia 0 ppm, nitrite 0 ppm, and my nitrate was at 80 ppm. holy crap so i did a water change of 15 gal. i have a 75 Gal tank. water temp is 76 and gets up to 79 during the day. when should i do my next water change and when should i test again? plz help.

thanks

[newtanksmell]

I don't know anything about rays. I found some info here but you'll have to sort through it.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/batoidsysfaqs.htm

Also, Aquatic Arts in Tempe or Mesa has a fair sized ray tank. Greg may be able to help.

As for water changes, most of the vets here recommend emergency water changes should be done as frequently as required to get the desired results without stressing the animals.

Watch your salinity on change water (mix .001 under whatever is recommended specifically for Rays and match temp to the best of your ability. A bathtub works wonders on a water container.

Sorry I can't help further. I'm just a newb. Someone else should pipe up as people are just starting to get home.

Good luck.

[evolust]

A 3 degree swing on the temp is not extremely bad but not good either. Try to make the temp stay within 1-2 degrees.

[kickboxer0213]

thanks for the reply. that was useful. just hope it pulls through

[kickboxer0213]

Originally posted by evolust
A 3 degree swing on the temp is not extremely bad but not good either. Try to make the temp stay within 1-2 degrees.

its my MH that brings the temp that high. i hate 2 see what happens in the summer

[evolust]

Ah, one thing I just remembered from when I had sharks. Sharks and rays are very sensitive to copper. You may want to get a test kit for that as well.

[evolust]

Are you running fans or a chiller?

[kickboxer0213]

theres no copper in my system. at least thats what me and skip came 2. i have a fan in the sump area but need 2 build it in my canopy

[kickboxer0213]

evolust i know this is off topic but are u a breeder of rotties?

[Pyrrhus]

J.R.- What is your S.G.? The system she came from was at 1.025 if your tank is much lower than that, that may be the issue.

[kickboxer0213]

its at 1.025 too.

[kickboxer0213]

skip, this sucks that my ray is on its last breaths. she was super healthy when i got it from u. i guess its something i must have done. I'll do another water change 2 get my nitrates lower.

[majestic sea life]

Do you have sharp rocks in the tank?

[Hifiguy]

It would probably be the nitrates. Definitely try and keep that lower. I found it easier to get a 35 gallon Rubbermaid storage box like they have for Christmas decorations and I fill that with my water and mix salt there. I make sure all the parameters are ok and then I do big water changes. This worked wonderfully in my 40 gallon tank if I needed to do a big water change.

In my 225 the 35 gallons is sort of mute but anyhow that's my suggestion. I haven't kept rays though.

I would do a test to make sure you don't have any voltage in the tank as well. I know sharks and rays are extremely sensitive to this and its something to rule out. Also its my understanding that rays like really fine substraight and don't do well with rough substraight. That's one more thing I have heard.

Hope all works out.

For Christmas I bought myself a Carpet anonomone and lost it on Christmas day after about a week. It sucks when things like this happen. Don't let it get you down, unfortunately sometimes fish die for little apparent reason. As long as you know you did everything in your power to provide the best home for the fish then you did everything you could and it wasn't your fault.

Shaun

[kickboxer0213]

Originally posted by majestic sea life
Do you have sharp rocks in the tank?

not really, i have a reef setup in my tank. theres seems to be no sharp rocks when i look at it

[kickboxer0213]

Originally posted by Hifiguy
It would probably be the nitrates. Definitely try and keep that lower. I found it easier to get a 35 gallon Rubbermaid storage box like they have for Christmas decorations and I fill that with my water and mix salt there. I make sure all the parameters are ok and then I do big water changes. This worked wonderfully in my 40 gallon tank if I needed to do a big water change.

In my 225 the 35 gallons is sort of mute but anyhow that's my suggestion. I haven't kept rays though.

I would do a test to make sure you don't have any voltage in the tank as well. I know sharks and rays are extremely sensitive to this and its something to rule out. Also its my understanding that rays like really fine substraight and don't do well with rough substraight. That's one more thing I have heard.

Hope all works out.

For Christmas I bought myself a Carpet anonomone and lost it on Christmas day after about a week. It sucks when things like this happen. Don't let it get you down, unfortunately sometimes fish die for little apparent reason. As long as you know you did everything in your power to provide the best home for the fish then you did everything you could and it wasn't your fault.

Shaun

thats what i'm thinking too about the nitrates. it didnt make it through the night but i'm working on getting the nitrates lower. almost wants me 2 quit the hobby. i had done a water change earlier that day i got the ray cause i knew i was getting some new fish. i didnt think that my nitrates would have spiked that high. dont know if i want 2 try another ray now. all i cant think is that it could have made it in someone else's tank.

[evolust]

Sorry to hear! I use to breed but I dont want to take anymore life time off my female from having more litters so she was fixed. She is the sweetest dog ever and I'm hoping I can keep her forever!

[kickboxer0213]

yeah i have a rottie myself and wanted 2 get another one. rotties are one of the best dogs i've had. they're great with my kids and the other dog.

[evolust]

^ I agree!