How To Keep Freshwater Stingrays/Stingray Fish Care Guide(Types,Care,Info,Diet,Breeding,tank mates and more..)

So you are ready to get a pet which is going to be with you for years. Stingrays are exceptional pets for their owners,they are smart,their looks are uncommon and they can be trained to accept food from your hand.Most of the species which are kept in fishkeeping trend,are from south american countries.They are from "Potamotrygon" family.
Though there is also another kind of freshwater rays there,which are from South Asian countries. They belongs to mainly "Urogymnus" family.
Very rarely Atlantic rays are also found in trade,but they are euryhaline fishes,they prefer brackish water to survive.
WHY THEY ARE CALLED "STINGRAY"?
Usually most of the rays have a pointed part at the end of their tails,so they are known as Stingray.This part is not for hunting or hurting others,it is for their self defense.It can be harmful for human.In Potamotrygon Family,most of the time there is 2 stings,when one will shed,other will rise.They got Venom there.
IN Nature
In nature,stingrays are found in mostly in amazon river.They love to stay in high flowing rivers or flooded rainforest areas.
IN FISHTANK
Stingrays became very popular monster fish for its distinguished color,patterns ,its apperance and for its smartness.They are also called Water Puppies for their interaction with owners.
BUt they need a very big tank to roam around.Their tank should not be less tham 180-200 gallon for each fish.They produce a lot of ammonia and they can't tolerate high level of nitrates or ammonia,so you need a strong canister or external filter and regular water changes.





Fish Tank Set Up
They dont require high set up,but they need care.
You can use bare buttom tank or you can use sand as a substrate.For ,me fine sand is better to use,you should avoid sharp edged rocks,that may hurt them.Other obstacles should be less because they love to swim around,though you can use dwriftwoods for them.And you need to build a strong filtration system.
Stingray Types
1)Black Diamond Stingrays;They are also known as Xingu River stingay.Their scientific name is Potamotrygon Leopoldi.They can grow upto 2 feet in diameter.Their intense colour,spots on body and rarity made them one of the most expansive in stingray hobby.Though they are expansive they are messy eaters.In wild they mainly live on Crustaceans but they can be trained to take pellets easily.It is one of my dream fish so far.Most of the black diamonds are bred in aquarium.

2)Motoro Stingray:Motoro stingrays are most common stingrays in hobby.They are also known as Ocellate River stingray.They are widely spread and found in amazon,orinoco and other south american rivers.They are the cheapest as well.They are best for starters,but they can grow upto 3feet!They are also messy eaters.They have brown color and spots all over their bodies.
 3)Pearl Stingray:Pearl stingrays are also very popular in hobby.They are known as POtamotrygon pearl.
4)Porcupine River stingray:
Their name is Potamotrygon hystrix.They are from Rio De la plata river.They are little bit less sensitive than others.They can be kept in 100gallon tank.
There are few different species of stingrays like Potamotrygon tigrina,scobina,bosseswani,P13,P14 which are also kept in aquariums.

DIET
In nature all of the rays live on mainly crustceans,they dont have teeth,they have crushing powers in their jaws.
In Fish tank they can be fed shrimps,lobsters,crabs,small cut fishes,tilapia fillets and so on.You just need to remember,they are carnivorous,so you need to give them meaty items.
Breeding
They can be bred in captivity,but it requires at least 8feet tank and massive filters and you need to wait for 2-3 years. While breeding males try to filp females up by biting her disk,when female goes up,males mate her.The process can be for 10-20 seconds.Males have 2 pointed fins,which are called claspers.When they mature for breeding,claspers get bigger.Sperms brust out from claspers.
How To Choose A Stingay
Stingay should be chosen carefully.If a pup is healthy then it should be active and there should be fat in its tail.If its back bone is visible and the fish looks skinny,then you can avoide that fish.You should also need to see if the fish taking its food well or not.For starters I suggest Motoros and Black Diamonds,You can buy a male motoro if your budget is low and you have a less sized tank.You should start with a messy eater species.I suggest to avoid tea cups,tigrinas for starters. 
Tank mates:



A lot of species can stay happily with them.Most of the moster fishes,Arowanas,peacock bass,Viejas,Uarus,Discuss,Big catfishes,other rays all of those fishes are ideal tank mates.You need to make sure that the fishes are far bigger than their mouth size.Some people keep bichirs with them but I dont suggest to do that,both accept feed from ground.So the competition must not be high.Bichirs sometime tend to attack rays and I saw in some cases they get stung by rays.
Is Stingray Right Fish For You??
Stingrays are not hard to keep but you need to understand the fish properly.They can't tolerate bad water conditions,so weekly water changes are must to keep the nitrates,ammonias low.They also need bigg size aquariums and lots of food like shrimp,fish etc.But in return you are going to get a pet that is going to live for 10-12 years or more,so they are lifetime commitment.So if you are a fish freaking guy like me,then you can definately get one.



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