Pseudo-rays are intriguing additions that give home aquariums a distinctive and alluring underwater setting. These fish have long, gracefully gliding tails and flat bodies, giving them an appearance similar to true rays even though they are not. They’re a popular choice for aquarium enthusiasts because of their striking appearance and peaceful nature.
It takes some planning to keep pseudo-rays in your aquarium, but the work is well worth it. Their natural habitat is replicated in well-kept tanks with soft substrates, where they flourish. It can be captivating to watch these graceful animals move across the tank floor; they will bring a serene and lovely element to your aquatic setup.
In this piece, we
- Who are pseudo-rays?
- How pseudo-rays differ?
- General conditions of maintenance
- Beaufortia (lat. Beaufortia)
- Compatibility
- Feeding
- Reproduction
- Pseudoscat Sevelia (Seville) (lat. Sewellia)
- Gastromyzon (lat. Gastromyzon)
- Please note!
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Who are pseudo-rays?
These fish are members of the Cypriniformes family, Balitor. They are native to Asia, where they have selected mountain rivers and swift, clear, transparent, and shallow streams. They are bottom dwellers who subsist on stones. They only consume plant-based food.
The fish’s body structure has been modified to enable them to remain on smooth stones under a powerful stream of water. Their length ranges from 6 to 10 cm. The entire body is compressed into a flat shape. On the outside, they look like stingrays.
The pectoral and pelvic fins form a broad, powerful sucker on the abdomen. On the head and lower body, there are no scales. The fish’s coloring, which is in the shades of yellow, gray, and brown, effectively camouflages them so that birds cannot see them.
How pseudo-rays differ?
These fish come in the following varieties: befortia, gastromyson, and sevelia. But because of their similar living circumstances, they are difficult to tell apart from one another. We’ll let you in on a secret: the ideal viewpoint for this is from below, as in the case of a pseudo-ray resting on glass.
- sevelia is the largest of the three species;
- befortia has a pointed muzzle and more voluminous pectoral fins;
- gastromyzon is small in size, has a rounded muzzle and not too wide fins.
General conditions of maintenance
Nearly identical conditions are found in the habitats of all three species of pseudorays. We’ll briefly list them here:
The range of the water’s parameters is 20–25 degrees, 2-126 hardness, and 5-7.5 acidity.
Strong aeration is required, a biofilter is ideal, and frequent water changes are recommended.
An abundance of light will encourage the growth of algae on surfaces.
The existence of plants (fern, echinodorus, anubias) with broad leaves that are useful for crawling.
Large, smooth, flat stones, or pebbles, and driftwood are good decorations; it’s best to avoid taking fresh or water-colored ones.
Only non-aggressive fish, including fry, make up neighbors. There should never be big predators present.
It is important to remember that although pseudo-rays cannot physically harm one another, they are territorial and intolerant of members of their own and related species.
Food: any surface covered in unicellular algae (a favorite delicacy). Moreover, you can feed them flakes or tablets made of plant materials intended for bottom fish. Fresh veggies like cucumber and zucchini won’t hurt you. Using a suction cup slightly above the bottom, a slice can be fixed to the glass. The fish won’t be disturbed and can feed directly off of it in this manner. To keep the remains from rotting, they must be removed in the evening.
Let’s now discuss each kind of pseudo-ray in greater detail.
Beaufortia (lat. Beaufortia)
These fish’s primary habitats are the tiny, swift-moving rivers and streams in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Southern China. These reservoirs have smooth, sandy bottoms that are frequently covered in tree leaves that have fallen. They have a high oxygen content and little vegetation.
We found conflicting views in the literature: some aquarists consider these animals to be catfish, while others think they are loach representatives. The fish are smaller than flounders, but they look similar from the outside. The body’s predominant hue is light brown. There are sporadic dark patches on top of this background and along the fin edges.
Though quite resilient, befortias thrive in environments akin to their natural surroundings: a robust stream, plenty of cover, rocks and driftwood, an abundance of plant life on all surfaces, and schools.
Things to consider when selecting an aquarium:
- Recommended volume from 100 l. Minimum volume from 50 l.
- The presence of a lid or sides on the upper edges of the glass (you can make them yourself by taking hoses or tubes of a suitable diameter and cutting them lengthwise).
This is required to stop the fish from scaling the tank walls above the water line and fleeing their home.
Items that belong in the aquarium:
- Water with a temperature of 20-23 degrees, hardness of 5-10 and acidity of 6.5-7.5. Befortia does not tolerate high temperatures very well, so in hot weather the water will need to be cooled. Cleanliness, oxygen enrichment and a strong current are very important, so a powerful good filter is simply a must.
- Bright lighting (for algae growth) with several shaded areas.
- Sand or small gravel without sharp edges as soil.
- Rocks, driftwood, caves as decoration and shelters.
- Plants are optional, but if you decide to plant them, then only with large wide leaves.
Compatibility
It is advised to store befortia in groups of three to seven people. They hide less in this instance, making them more fascinating to observe. The fish are aggressive, but they don’t set up violent altercations where people get hurt—instead, they eject a rival male from their domain.
They coexist peacefully with other animals. They are not dangerous to fry at all.
Naturally, they cannot be housed with large predators because, despite their fast swimming speed, they can still be easily taken by them.
Feeding
Beaufortia may be fed both plant and animal food, including algae, tablets, flakes, brine shrimp, bloodworms, tubifex, frozen or live daphnia, and vegetables.
Reproduction
These fish are nearly impossible to identify by sex. Some people believe that women are smaller than men. It is extremely uncommon for an aquarium to breed.
Fortias are more susceptible to disease because they lack scales.
Pseudoscat Sevelia (Seville) (lat. Sewellia)
Their homeland is in the mountain rivers of Central Vietnam, Laos. Similar to the preceding species, these fish lack scales on their head and abdomen, have an abdominal sucker made of fins, and are camouflaged beneath the reservoir’s surface thanks to their coloring.
What kind of aquarium Sevelia ought to have:
- large (from 150 to 400 liters), since this is the largest of the three fish species, requiring space for swimming;
- equipped with a lid or sides.
Items that belong in the aquarium:
- Water with a temperature of 18-24 degrees, hardness from 2 to 12 and acidity of 6.5-7.5. Aeration, filtration and weekly thirty percent replacement are mandatory.
- Soil consisting of rounded particles without sharp edges.
- Decor – large flat stones on the bottom.
- Powerful and large plants: anubias, echinodorus, cryptocoryne. It is better to plant them in pots.
Harmony. It is worthwhile to take small, calm fish, like cardinals, lalius, rasbora, small gourami, etc., as neighbors. Keeps with big botias, goldfish, and peaceful barbs are acceptable.
Feeding. They are fed similarly to how befortia is. Furthermore, since sevelias have a tendency to overeat, the portion size should be such that the fish can finish it in three to five minutes.
Procreation. Compared to females, males are smaller, lighter, and slimmer. In captivity, the fish do not reproduce.
Gastromyzon (lat. Gastromyzon)
The genus Gastromyzon comprises a number of fish species. They are all similar in terms of appearance and maintenance requirements.
The reservoirs of Borneo, with their pure, cool, and oxygen-rich water, serve as the primary habitat for wildlife. They are also found in China, Vietnam, and Laos in addition to this location.
The guitar fish is the second name for the gastromyzon. It is given because the fish’s body shape and an instrument that is similar to it are similar.
It has two large, semicircular fins in pairs. The head is likewise spherical. Moving toward the tail, the body tapers. There is a fin-shaped sucker on the abdomen. There are no scales on the head or belly. The fish can only eat soft food because its mouth does not have horny scrapers and looks upward. The hues of brown vary from light to dark.
We won’t duplicate ourselves because the maintenance conditions are the same as those of the prior species. We will only add that, for 2-4 people, it is preferable to bring an aquarium that is at least 60 liters in size. The ideal water parameters for gastromyzon are 22–25 degrees, with an acidity of 6-7.5 and a hardness of 10-15. Weekly water changes and the use of a compressor and filter are necessary.
Most peaceful tropical fish find gastromyzon to be an ideal neighbor because it can withstand higher temperatures with good aeration, unlike the previous species.
Aquarium enthusiasts who want to add unusual and eye-catching fish to their tanks often choose pseudo-rays. These freshwater fish have an appearance similar to that of real rays, but they are easier to maintain and fit in nicely in aquariums. They provide the eye-catching beauty of exotic marine life without the fussy upkeep. You can keep them healthy and happy in your aquarium by being aware of their needs for a suitable habitat, their behavior, and how to set up their tank.
Please note!
Buy. Consider your options carefully before purchasing pseudo-rays. Fished that have any external damage should not be consumed. The state of the fins, the fish’s body thickness (it shouldn’t be too thin), and its breathing pattern should all be carefully observed.
Put under quarantine. Quarantining pseudo-rays is required before putting them in a shared aquarium. It will be necessary to establish the most comfortable and natural-like conditions at first. This ensures that the fish will adjust to life in captivity quickly and that transferring them to a regular aquarium won’t present any issues down the road.
Sensitivity to chemicals. All pseudorays are extremely sensitive to any kind of chemical intervention, including plant fertilizers and medications, particularly those that contain metals. Fish that come into contact with these substances become ill and eventually die.
Pseudo-rays in Aquariums | Description |
What are Pseudo-rays? | Pseudo-rays are not actual rays but resemble them with their flat bodies and wide fins, creating an illusion of ray-like movement in the water. |
Common Species | Some fish that mimic rays include freshwater stingrays, skates, and other species with flat, elongated bodies. |
Behavior | Pseudo-rays glide smoothly along the bottom of the tank, often staying close to the substrate. |
Aquarium Setup | Provide sandy or soft substrates, ample swimming space, and gentle water flow to mimic their natural habitat. |
Feeding | Feed them with a diet of sinking pellets, live, or frozen food like bloodworms or brine |
In an aquarium, pseudo-rays can be an intriguing addition since they provide a distinctive visual element that sets them apart from regular fish. Their graceful motions and captivating look can create an enthralling underwater scene in your tank.
But maintaining pseudo-rays necessitates paying close attention to their particular requirements. Proper diet, tank size, and water quality are crucial for their health. Because they are delicate animals, giving them a steady and comfortable environment is essential to their long-term wellbeing.
If you’re up for the challenge, adding pseudo-rays to your aquarium can be quite rewarding. These incredible creatures can thrive and add a hint of exotica to your aquatic setup with the correct attention and care.