All fish / Potamotrygonidae

Tiger Stingray

Potamotrygon tigrina

Also known as tiger ray, tiger river stingray, tigrina stingray, p. tigrina, tiger freshwater stingray, กระเบนเสือ, タイガーレイ, 老虎魟

A large freshwater stingray with a dark brown to black disc marked by bold, wavy orange or yellow bands that look like tiger stripes. It is one of the most sought-after rays in the hobby because of its striking pattern and active, curious feeding behaviour.

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 in a male and female pair in a very large tank

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin, Peru (Marañón and Nanay rivers)

Breeding

Females give birth to a small litter of live pups after a gestation of around three months. Captive breeding is done in Asia on a commercial scale, but at home it needs a mature pair, a huge tank and excellent water quality.

Good to know

The tail carries a venomous barb that can cause a very painful wound, and adults need a vast, sand-bottomed tank with powerful filtration and stable, nitrate-free water. Import or ownership of potamotrygonid rays is restricted or banned in some places, including parts of the USA, so check local rules first.