Since the lift of ban from selling rays in LFS..... I can see many newbies started to rear rays now.... First of all, Welcome to the ray keeping community.....
Rays have many different species to choose from. Whatever rays it is, it has its own beauty. The best thing is buy within your budget means and buy what you like.
Rays unlike other fishes are more prone to water parameters conditions. Before making decison to buy rays, check your water condition in your tank first. Most beginners tends to make such mistake as they would want to buy rays into their tanks asap. This is a grave mistake. If your water condition is not good for rays..... the new rays you bought will end up in the dustbin within a week. Do take note of such....
Favorable water condition should be as such:
Water PH Level: 6.5 to 7.5
Nitrate : 0ppm
Nitrite : 0ppm
Ammonia : 0ppm
For Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia, a slight difference is acceptable in the range of 0.25 but big difference will be a disaster. So please take note of such.
Second Point beginners should take note of is your water changing habit.... As most of us said.. "Rear good fish must first rear water" . Practice Water changing habit twice per week about 10~20%. Rays Bioload is equivalent to 3 times an arowana. Meaning you have one ray in your tank equals to 3 arowanas purchase. Practice every feeding left over Must be cleared off to prevent ammonia build up.
Third point.....
Train your rays to feed on Frozen food like Marke prawn, Sotong, Tamban, Smelt and refrain from feeding Live Feeders as much as possible. Live parasite infested feeders are most commonly found in packets of Live feeders you bought in the LFS. All you need is just one live parasite infected feeder to be consumed by any of your rays.... you will have big problem later on... For everybody knowleage, there is no readily available medicine for any specific cure for rays if they got parasite and not visible sign of infection can be seen from the appearance. By the time you find your rays not eating and behaving strange... chance of survival is 15%
Forth Point.....
A good filtration system is a must for your rays ..... water recycle good water parameter will maintain at a certain level with minimum changes. A constant high and low changes in water parameter will affect the survival rate of the rays definitely..... Practice 3 months ~6 months cleaning of your sump or over flows filtration.... if your water is good rays will be flying here and there and lively
Fifth Point......
Some of the Rays keeper they put salt into their tank ..... For me, I dont put salt at all .... Incorrect proportion of salt content will burn your rays. Thus to prevent such silly mistake, I would suggest not to do with salt.. Rather I would suggest ray keeper to have an UV light installed. It is the same effect of killing any harmful bacteria in your water.... The next item is a must ... A heater set at 28degree. This heater will help heal scratches/scar faster than without it.... rays thrive at 28degree.....
As long as any beginners remember the basic rules of ray keeping, I am sure everybody who started rays will be deeply poisoned and upgrades rays... Hope my limited experience, help for the future ray community. I am sure all the experienced brothers here are able to help anyone who needs aids. Enjoy Ray keeping and once again welcome to the dark side ....