Moving pattern and feeding behavior of blue-spotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma ) in aquaria environment

Abstract

The moving pattern and feeding behavior of blue-spotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma ) in aquaria environment was studied within 27 days. The moving pattern observations (e.g. movement, respond to stimulation, feeding and breathing activities) were conducted by direct observation and by recording their activities during day and night. The feeding behavior was observed by feeding them in a variety of food. The study showed that ray was active at day and becoming passive during night. The moving pattern included maneuver in vertical and horizontal directions, walk and jump on aquaria bottom, and fast reflective movements. The ray showed ability in prey hunting, more like to fed living fodder with a smooth texture, not a corpse eater, had abilities to modulate breathing rate regarding varying activities, and had skills to acclimatize in strong inflow changes of aeration and water flow.