9 - 13" Tiger Ray
Potamotrygon menchacai
The much sought-after
Tiger Ray is the grand prize in the stingray world. The combination of its long tail, beautiful tiger-like pattern, its size
and extreme rarity makes it the most highly prized among the freshwater stingrays.
The Tiger Ray
can grow to more than two feet in diameter! An amazing specimen at this size. It is a hardy species, that is relatively easy
to keep compared to other species, but will need more tank space.
As part of the
Potamotrygon family, caring and its behavior are similar to its cousins.
In the wild,
the tiger ray eats shellfish, crustaceans, fish and even scavanges for meet. In captivity, they may be fed feeder fish and
even shrimp from the market. They will also readily eat cut pieces of fish and beef heart. Make sure to remove pieces of uneaten
food so the water does not get spoiled.
Water quality
is very important for freshwater stingrays, and about a quarter of the water in the tank should be changed every week or so.
A good biological filter is also a must. Stingrays can be burned by standard aquarium heaters so be careful in positioning
it away from its reach or using external heating.
The bottom of
the tank can either be bare (glass) for easier cleaning or sandy for a more athestic look. Either one is fine for the ray,
as long as the sand is soft and not sharp gravel that can cut it bottom. With a sandy bottom, you may see the rays burying
themselves, and "pouncing" on food.
Stingrays are
carnivorous and will eat most other tropical fish that can fit into their mouth. Chose tankmates carefully. Clown loaches
(if large enough) and Arowanas are popular tankmates for stingrays since they make quite a striking picture together. Large
and peaceful fish can usually be good tankmates with freshwater stingrays.
Water temperature
should be kept warm at 78 to 82 degrees (F) and they can tolerate even warmer without problem. Though the water in their habitat
is acidic, they are surprizingly resiliant to water hardness and a high PH.
This is only
the very basic information on keeping the rays, and novices should consult more detailed information. These are not goldfish,
and require greater attention to keep healthy. The books offered in this page in the Stingray category are a great asset for
keepers of all knowledge levels.
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