Future of the Ray Keeping Hobby?

[Niki_up]

Honestly it’s not just rays, it’s all species of fish.

most people just see $$$ and want to maximize how much they can make while spending as little as possible.

as pleco enthusiast I like to try and breed the different types of plecos and lots of local people ask me many questions…mostly they consist of can I keep x pleco with x pleco and when I tell them no they will interbreed they say well that would be a cool hybrid, then I explain what happens when they want a pure specific l numbers if hybrids take over the hobby and they can’t find the pure l numbers. Most don’t care.

another question I get is a crossed this bn with this bn, what color would you call it and how much do you think it’s worth. I see so many dirty “red” bn for sale for big bucks it’s ridiculous.

then you get people who want to keep as many different plecos in a tank to maximize breeding and stock to maximize profits. I keep telling people pleco only tanks works best for breeding. No one seriously cares…then well what’s the smallest amount of space I can give them to breed them?

I can see rays being the same way. People are motivated by money not their interests or the fishes best interest.

sold some zebra plecos to a lfs and they asked what they eat, water change scheduled ect bc they wanted to give the best care and I now learn the babies haven’t grown since they left my care (and are priced almost 3x’s what the lfs paid). My remaining babies have doubled if not tripled in size from the same batch.

sorry I went on a little rant not very specific to rays, but it’s across the board in the hobby with any species

 

[esoxlucius]

Is it just on MFK that ray keepers are dwindling, or are you privvy to some information that proves that there is a global downturn in ray keeping?

The entire hobby is a niche hobby. Within that niche hobby ray keeping is another specialised niche sub section.

A niche within a niche doesn't exactly scream big numbers to me. And although MFK might be popular with us guys, i bet there's a huge amount of ray keepers on other forums, or don't bother with forums at all.

There may well be more ray keepers happy to keep and breed "mutts". Could that be down to the high prices of "pure" strains and keeping rays in general? Bear in mind there is a current global economic squeeze going on.

You may very well be right but imo I think a blanket statement saying the ray keeping community is dwindling is difficult to quantify.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Well, one things for sure, this site has NOT helped bolster numbers of raykeepers at least as of lately.

Usually when a prospective ray keeper comes to the forum and starts a thread we find their idea of a ray tank "too small" and we are not shy about discouraging them from keeping rays until they have a....oh what are we saying now people? 700 gallons? 1000?

 

[Simonas]

I'm a newbie with rays having kept them only 14 months now but kept fish for 31 years. Rays incidently are the best type of fish I have ever kept.

I am UK based but for me I find that ray keeping seems to be more common as prices seem to be lowering. Saying that I see a lot being passed around a lot which is a shame.

I have a pair of mini marbles that I got as pups from Richard Hardwick at wHARF . Beautiful fish

I'm with the others I dont like the platimums, albinos, short bodies, long fins and crosses. Pure strain look so much better in pretty much every example

 

[wednesday13]

Keeping “large” fish in general these days is viewed as inhumane where as even 10 yrs ago it was more common place. Everyone thinks smaller fish are ethical even tho its the same practice. Scale always seems to get people regardless of someones knowledge or past experience in the hobby. Recent laws are swaying in favor of this “new generation” also. “They” dont wan’t people to have pets in general, they do not support zoos or conservation type programs just the same.

IMO any newcomers to “large” fish keeping including rays are usually encouraged to go in another direction. All i hear is new nonsense formulas for tank sizes being touted and that certain types of fish don’t belong in the hobby at all. I “get” both sides, but you can’t condone one side when they are both in the same. Ive said it many times over now on here… a fish in a box, is a fish in a box. Enjoy keeping them or move on lol…

Rays specifically probably scare most people like touting “saltwater is harder to keep than fresh”. Its not, and neither are rays. Sadly the majority takes “general opinion” over fact or is too afraid to try for themselves to gather a valid conclusion. I believe people are just to afraid to try anything anymore.

The industry as a whole comes and goes through the years. Im surprised sometimes with the amt. of people “still in” and many more new ones. With more avenue’s of social media its just spread out and not all on this particular forum any more… plenty of people on youtube alone. Animals are much more accessible then in the past. No physical stores, forums, or human interactions are needed to get what u may want . In turn theres not as much “sharing”…

 

[tlindsey]

Rays specifically probably scare most people like touting “saltwater is harder to keep than fresh”. Its not, and neither are rays. Sadly the majority takes “general opinion” over fact or is too afraid to try for themselves to gather a valid conclusion. I believe people are just to afraid to try anything anymore.

Agree

Just like most species of fish there are Rays that are more difficult to keep than others. For example the Motoro is more hardy than the Hystrix.

 

[wednesday13]

Agree

Just like most species of fish there are Rays that are more difficult to keep than others. For example the Motoro is more hardy than the Hystrix.

Always a “learning curve”… have to try tho lol… only way to learn/get better. May take owning 1 large fish or “temperamental” species to get good at keeping water. Once u get there tho. Its all the same IMO.

 

[jjohnwm]

...well what’s the smallest amount of space I can give them to breed them?

Of all the wearisome, irritating questions that are repeated here on CGN...that is unquestionably the worst.

Partially due to the implied suggestion that such a question has a simple, easy answer...but mostly due to the idea itself. You ask that question and you are saying "I don't care at all about optimal conditions for my fish, and I don't care to learn anything the hard way (by doing it...)...I just want someone to tell me the absolute bare minimum of money/time/effort/space I need to expend to not fail completely."

That question makes me feel that the best thing that could happen for the fish in the hobby...is for the hobby to just fade away and stop torturing them.

 

[kendragon]

. In turn theres not as much “sharing”…

All talk and no show.....

 

[Niki_up]

Of all the wearisome, irritating questions that are repeated here on CGN...that is unquestionably the worst.

Partially due to the implied suggestion that such a question has a simple, easy answer...but mostly due to the idea itself. You ask that question and you are saying "I don't care at all about optimal conditions for my fish, and I don't care to learn anything the hard way (by doing it...)...I just want someone to tell me the absolute bare minimum of money/time/effort/space I need to expend to not fail completely."

That question makes me feel that the best thing that could happen for the fish in the hobby...is for the hobby to just fade away and stop torturing them.

I agree completely 100%

I even Tell people my own personal experience…the best group of plecos I have that are the most consistently breeding for me are the ones that have their own species tanks with no dithers, nothing else but some assassin snails for pest control and shrimps.