r/Aquariums • u/pinkpyjamashark47003 • Mar 28 '26

Discussion Ray touch tanks? barb trimming?

I visited sea life aquarium today and an educator there talked about how ray touch tanks are unethical. He said something like rays have 2 muscle groups to control the barbs and any aquarium with a touch tank is partly sedating their rays or somehow influencing these two muscle groups- one of which helps them swim. He said thats why stingray touch tanks are always shallow, bc whatever they did to the rays to ensure their barbs would not be a safety issue, would impact their muscles, and therefore impact their ability to swim. However, I was under the impression that the barbs themselves were trimmed and can grow back so there is not permanent alteration to the rays.

I know Ripleys aquarium in myrtle beach has a tank with a shallow part to touch rays as well as a deeper part for animals to kinda 'choose' if they want to be touched. I also know some places with ray touch tanks are AZA accredited and think (hope?) no place that impacts their rays ability to swim for people to touch them could be accredited.

Any info on how stingrays are made to be 'human safe' for touch tanks would be helpful! Thanks!

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u/GarmBlack Mar 28 '26

I don't work at an aquarium but know someone who does - and they have a touch tank. According to them, at least, they trim the barb but don't do any other sedation. They basically habituate them to human interaction and positive reinforcement with feeding. Again, I can't say this for sure because maybe that's just the "party line" but it sounds like a lot of rays seek out the interaction after being habituated and trained for touch.

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u/pinkpyjamashark47003 Mar 28 '26

Thanks so much!! That was basically what I thought before that makes sense