Handling large rays

[ukgoffer]

Any advice on handling med to large rays? I have a male that I am going to need to remove from a 240g tank. His disc is just over 15” so not particularly large but I haven’t had a lot of luck with nets and this ray in the past - he usually gets his Barb stuck in a net and it is very difficult to get loose. I’ve used trout nets in the past - I also have a saltwater fishing net - nylon with 1” holes but the frame of the net is only about 16” wide. Has anyone tried fashioning a sling to move a ray rather than using a traditional net?

 

[sikoko]

You can always use an old sheet

 

[Tobiassorensen]

I have an saltwater rubbernet for my rays. At least the larger ones. You can try to get the ray to come up the sides of the tank with the net holding the net over the ray and let the ray just glide down sideways in the net. When doing so its on the rays premises to glide in to the net. And try to get the ray in eyeside first so the tail and barb bends with the net.

One of my rays always swings her barb at the net and she is huge around 50cm wd im just doing as i described and no problems at all.

 

[Scoot123]

I would never move a large ray with a nylon net you risk ripping there barb out or even when you do get it untangled you’ve stressed them out more then necessary and even made the barb bleed in some cases. Always use a rubber net. Can get big rubber nets for like $20 at Walmart in the hunting/fishing sections. Then the barbs getting stuck won’t be an issue.

 

[Scoot123]

Also If your parting with the ray and don’t wanna spend that much on a net then drain the tank low and use a container and guide him into the container with your net much less stressful then getting a barb stuck.

 

[Gpdriftwood]

Laundry baskets work pretty well.

 

[moosemj]

I’ve moved a lot larger rays with rubber nets. The disc rolls a little so the can fit in smaller nets. Then put them in a bin.

 

[Castexi]

+1 for rubber nets. + bonus points if the netting is wide enough for them to poke their tail through so they won't thrash too much.