All fish / Potamotrygonidae

Lima's river stingray

Potamotrygon limai

Also known as lima stingray, limai stingray, potamotrygon limai, freshwater stingray, ポタモトリゴン・リマイ, 利马江魟

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A round, flat river stingray with a brown to dark grey disc covered in small pale or yellowish spots and a short, thick tail carrying a venomous spine. It was described in 2011 from the Jamari River in Brazil and is kept by specialist stingray enthusiasts who value its neat pattern and fairly moderate size.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

35 cm

Temperature

25 to 30 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

1500 litres

Keep as

Singly or in pairs; very large tanks only for groups

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Madeira River basin (Jamari River, Rondônia), Brazil

Breeding

Like other river stingrays it is livebearing, with females giving birth to a small litter of fully formed pups after internal fertilisation. Captive breeding of this species is rare and calls for a large, very clean tank with a mature pair.

Good to know

The tail spine can cause a very painful, medically serious sting, so handle with great care, and these rays need a big sandy tank with excellent filtration and low nitrate. Export of Potamotrygon species from Brazil is controlled and some countries restrict or ban keeping them, so check local laws.