Stingray in a 180 gallon

[JasonNY58]

I would like to get a small singray for my 180 gallon tank that I am setting up, it has a large amount surface area and very fine 3-4inch deep sand. It is an upgrade from my 125 and only has a sailfing tang and a foxface in it currently.

I would really like a blue spot stingray (or another pending advice) for it. Any opinions on this or information from people that have kept or keep stingrays?

 

[FishyMel]

You should try a cortez stingray, they could manage in 180 for awhile. Bluespots get very large and dont fair well in captivity at all, Cortezes get about 16 inches in total length, grow pretty slow, and IME are pretty hardy. I have one right now with disk with of about 5 inches.

They are also extemely intelligent, mine can rollover, come to the top for a scratch on the head and play dead. He always is flipping his fins out of the water for attention.

They thing you need to remember is that you need to keep your nitrates really low. Some say 0 but I found they are okay with up to 5 ppm. I also I find they are okay in the 180 gallon range because you'll find that it uses the glass and the sand for swimming surface area, So when people people are putting them in 1 foot deep ponds that have a little bigger footprint I am not sure the ray is any happier.

 

[Charger21_SD]

Yeah get a small cortez ray.

 

[JasonNY58]

There real sensitive to copper too right? Should I use RODI water as in my reef tank, to make sure no copper is in tank?

 

[devils_rejects]

It wouldnt hurt to use rodi water . Better safe than sorry. I had a smaller one for a while in my 125 and it was the coolest thing I have had so far . Unfortunatly I didnt think it would hurt not having a top on the tank and came home to ray jerky one night . He had been on the floor a while . Someday I hope to get another one.

 

[bryan007]

I know the blue spot is a no, no, rarely lives can anyone recommend where I could get a cortez, i'm in Pa. Thanks.

Scott