[Armour17]

I am setting up a 155 bowfront. My plan is to do a number of tangs (naso, yellow, kole, blue hippo, and possibly a small vlamingi (with the understanding I will have to rehome eventually)) I am wondering if it would be safe to put a small stingray in the tank, most likely a cortez ray. I have heard tangs can potentially pick at the stingrays, but I thought I would get opinions before I try anything. I was watching youtube videos of tanks with tangs and what looked like healthy stingrays.

I appreciate the feedback.

 

[kryptonguy]

155 bow front?

It is my understanding that the cortez ray (rays in general) require a long tank for swimming. Like 6 feet or longer. I see in your original post that you are planning to rehome your tangs, are you planning to rehome the ray too eventually? A young ray might be okay to start in a 155 bow, but with five tangs in there as well that tank is going to be cramped. I assume you will have live rock for the tangs to hid in and around. That too will take up space that rays like to hide in the sand. That is just my opinion. I know that this warning comes up all the time for tangs and large breed fish in small(ish) aquariums, so I am sure you already know what I have said, but I just wanted to make sure that you have considered the stress you will be putting on the tank inhabitants. No judgement here though, I think everyone in this hobby has over loaded a tank at least once.

As far as mixing tangs with rays; I have never owned ray, but I have seen them in tanks with tangs and never noticed a quarrel going on. There is always that chance I guess, especially if they are all living closely together and already stressed. If anything, I would say it is the other way around as rays are known to eat small fish.

Hopefullly a ray expert can help you better with this. Good luck!

 

[Armour17]

thanks

Thanks for the input, the more I was thinking about it the more I agree that it would potentially add stress to the system. I think I am going to stick with the tangs and leave the ray out of the equation.

It is not so much that they quarrel is more that the ray looks like the rock and sand a tang would normally pick at.

 

[arielw]

I have had both Cortez and Blue spotted rays with tangs with no problems. I would agree that a 155 is probably small for a cortez over the long term. Cortez rays would certainly fit into the tank but they are quite active and swim and feed aggressively so a large amount of sandy bottom is definitely a benefit.