I went to a new public aquarium today and was surprised to see a "touching pool" or artificial tidal pool with rays swimming around (as much as 18 to 20 inches across in width) for children to pet. I even pet the spine of one myself. It says it was a Southern sting ray. Because it was crowded, I didn't know who to ask to find out why that ray was safe. What rays are safe to touch, and which ones aren't?
2007-02-19 19:01:32 · 6 answers · asked by Cookie777 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
It is safe to touch almost every type of ray. They have poisonous spines/tails that can kill (as we have seen with Steve Irwin), but rarely use them and only do if they feel threatened. It is obvious that the rays you touched were harmless as they would not let people pet them otherwise! Hope I have answered your question:-)
2007-02-19 21:30:22 · answer #1 · answered by Motti _Shish 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
All rays are safe to touch as long as you do not stress them. Like any animal that has a defencive system, if you do not stress the beast, it will not defend itself.
If you were poked with a stick, would you defend yourself?
I have fed stingrays with fish that I have caught. They responded and allowed me to pat them. I have also been chased out of the water at Williamstown Beach by a huge stingray that had enough of humans. It had a spear from a spear gun still in it's back. There were scars all over it's back. The ray was more than 1 1/2 metres across. Obviously had an issue with humans.
I have also stood on Rays while collecting bait. The reaction was a slap with the tail as if to say "Watch it!"
I guess, from my experience, do not provoke a ray.
2007-02-19 22:06:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Banjo rays are safe to touch as are guitarfish, manta rays. They are all ones with shark like tails which are absent of the barb or are just absent of the barb. Any ray with a barb has it for selfdefence and will use it if threatended. You dont want to get those hands near the mouth however as their jaws are strong and the crushing plate inside most of them can grind shells and probly fingers.
If handled a lot they may also be safe if they are not stressed by the presence of us. I have worked with these fellas and know that even the smallest stingaree can inflict a pretty painful sting.
2007-02-19 21:34:36 · answer #3 · answered by Gord 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ultraviolet rays are safe to touch if you put a protective cream on your hands!
2007-02-19 20:23:20 · answer #4 · answered by Kenneth H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't know, ask steve irwin! opp's sorry he went in a ray of light.
2007-02-19 19:25:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
billy ray, bobby ray, joe ray, rayray...
2007-02-19 19:06:59 · answer #6 · answered by daddysboicub 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋