All fish / Potamotrygonidae

Largespot River Stingray

Potamotrygon falkneri

Also known as leopold stingray, marbled stingray, reticulated stingray, falkneri stingray, freshwater stingray, large spot stingray, castexi stingray, motoro falkneri, กระเบนน้ำจืด, pari air tawar, ポタモトリゴン・ファルクネリ, 淡水魟

A round, flat river stingray with a brown to olive disc covered in yellow to orange spots and a dark reticulated pattern. Keepers value it for its striking markings, curious nature and the way it learns to take food from the hand.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

40 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

1500 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a pair or small group in a very large tank

Diet

Carnivore: earthworms, prawns, mussel, shrimp, white fish fillet and sinking carnivore pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Paraná-Paraguay river basin (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia)

Breeding

It gives birth to live young after a gestation of around three months, with litters of a few to over a dozen pups. Captive breeding is regularly achieved by specialists with mature pairs in very large, stable systems.

Good to know

The tail carries a venomous spine that can cause a very painful wound, so handle with great care, and the disc can exceed 50 cm in width. Freshwater stingrays are banned or need a licence in some places, and they need open sandy floor space and pristine water with near zero nitrate.