stingray active only at night

[sixpack_ey]

I have had my hystrix for a month or so now. I have always thought he was just not an active fish. During the day, he stays burried almost all day. He will wake up and look for food, I will feed him, and he will immediately burry himself for another six hours. I feed him 2-3 times per day, whenever he wakes up and looks for food. Each time he will eat and immediately burry himself and go back to sleep.
I would like to say I am not concerned about his health, he eats great and has deffinitely grown in the last month. But, I thought he just didn't move very much.
But, the last week, I have been getting up in the night to observe him and he swims all night long. I know they are naturally nocturnal, but I of course want him to be up some during the day so I can see him. This is not an issue due to lighting- I just added a light this week and this behavior has been going on for the last month.
What can I do to get him to be awake and active more in the daytime? Its almost like I don't even have a ray because he is burried for most of the hours I am awake.

 

[sam buckle]

what are the tank mates?

 

[keepinfish]

that is pretty normal for a new ray. give it another month or so and he will start getting use to captivity. What i do is turn the lights on and feed. that way he thinks when lights come on it is time to feed.

 

[sixpack_ey]

Well as far as tankmates go, there were about thirty columbian tetras in with him, but I noticed they seem to chase him around a little, so I got all of them out about a week ago. I had to take everything in the tank out and it was a lot of work to get them all. I know it really stressed the ray out; he has acted different since. But they had to go because I saw them nip at him a couple times. Two days ago I added 5 discus. They have not bothered the ray at all. Like I said in the post, I put a light on the tank two days ago. They ray was already not very active during the day, but I can tell he hates the light because he now stays completely burried when the light is on, he won't even eat unless the worm is dropped right on top of him (he still is eating fine at night when lights are out).

 

[keepinfish]

if a ray is eating, that is a good sign.. As long as your water is clean, he should be fine..

I thought the same thing about rays when i first got into them. I thought what is the point they stay buried all the time.. but give it time..

Or go bare bottom

 

[6floord]

i have the same issue..have my retic, and two motoros for about a month....all are pups..they stay buried for most of the time...a buddy of mine who picked up the same batch has active rays...the only difference I see is he runs a moonlight all night long...just bought one today, we'll see if it works