All fish / Urotrygonidae

Bullseye Stingray

Urobatis concentricus

Also known as spot-on-spot round ray, reef stingray, concentric round stingray, bullseye round stingray, bullseye ray

This small round stingray has a disc covered in dark rings and spots on a sandy brown to yellowish background, with a short tail ending in a fin. Public aquariums and dedicated hobbyists keep it because it is one of the more manageable rays and has a striking pattern.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

40 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

1500 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a pair in a very large tank

Diet

Carnivore: shrimp, squid, clams, mussels and other meaty seafood

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California and Pacific coast of Mexico

Breeding

It gives birth to live young after internal fertilisation, with pups nourished in the womb. Captive births happen now and then in large systems, but deliberate breeding is uncommon.

Good to know

The tail spine is venomous and can give a painful sting, so take care when working in the tank. It needs a large open sand bed, excellent water quality and tankmates that will not nip it or that it cannot eat.