All fish / Potamotrygonidae

Bigtooth river stingray

Potamotrygon henlei

Also known as henlei stingray, bigtooth stingray, henlei ray, black henlei, henlei freshwater stingray, p. henlei, henli stingray, กระเบนเฮนลีไอ, pari henlei, ヘンレイ, 亨利魟, 黑白魟

A large, dark brown to black freshwater stingray with bold white or cream spots across its disc and tail. Keepers prize it for its striking contrast and calm, inquisitive behaviour, and it is one of the more popular Brazilian river rays.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

45 cm

Temperature

25 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: shrimp, mussels, earthworms, white fish fillet, prawns and sinking carnivore pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Brazil: Tocantins and Araguaia river basins

Breeding

Livebearing, with females giving birth to a small litter of fully formed pups after a gestation of around three months. Captive breeding is fairly regular in large, well kept systems, and many fish in the trade are now captive bred.

Good to know

The tail carries a venomous barb that can cause a very painful wound, so handle with care. Discs can reach 45 to 50 cm or more, and some countries restrict import or keeping of freshwater stingrays, so check local laws.