FAQ's (Frequently asked questions)

Q: I just bought a new ray. How do I care for it?

A: You've come to the right place if you're interested in learning how to care for your new fish. These pages contain a great deal of useful information for beginning ray-keepers. Read through them, and if you have any unanswered questions, don't hesitate to e-mail me.

Q: What's the best species for beginners?

A: Potamotrygon motoro and P. histrix are both very hardy species and are perfect for less experienced hobbyists. The only drawback with motoros is that they grow very large very quickly, so prepare to upgrade to a bigger system within a year or so.

Q: What is the smallest species of freshwater stingray?

A: There are two species of ray commonly found in the aquarium trade that tend to stay on the smaller side, teacup rays (Potamotrygon reticulata) and P. histrix. Their maximum size usually ranges between 12-14". Teacups may require more room because of their longer tails.

Q: I recently purchased a "teacup stingray". What species does it belong to?

A: It could be anything. P. reticulata is the only species that is officially known as a teacup, but many retailers use this term to refer to any ray that is small and brown. P. histrix, P. orbignyi, and P. humerosa are the three species that are most commonly misidentified as teacups.

Q: Can I keep different species of stingrays together in the same tank?

A: Yes, in many cases. Stingrays rarely behave aggressively towards one another, with the exception of the occasional dispute over food. Just make sure all rays in your system are of a similar size, and that all of them are getting enough to eat.

Q: What is the minimum tank size for rays?

A: For the smaller species, I would recommend looking into no less than a 180 gallon aquarium with a 6' x 2' footprint as a permanent home. Some species, such as the ever popular and readily-available P. motoro, can reach a maximum size of over 2', so larger accomodations (ie, a pond) may be required.

Q: What other fish can I keep with my ray?

A: See the tankmates page for a listing of fishes and other aquatic organisms that people commonly want to keep with rays. If you are unable to locate the species in question here, then e-mail me and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Q: My ray is extremely active and bounces or swims with it's belly on the side of the tank. Is this normal?

A: Yes, and it is generally a very good indicator that your ray is healthy. It's only when it is resting on the bottom of the aquarium and displaying little if any movement for prolonged periods that you need to worry.

Q: The other fish in my tank have ick. Can it be transmitted to my ray?

A: No. Ick only appears to affect bony fishes, particularly teleosts. Do not use any copper-based medications in your ray tank. Instead, raise the temperature about 3-4º F and add one teaspoon of aquarium salt per 10 gallons of water.

Q: My ray has fungus. How do I treat it?

A: Do a 50% water change initially and 10-20% changes daily until the fungus disappears. It's important that you keep the tank extremely clean during treatment. Adding one teaspoon of aquarium (uniodized salt) per 10 gallons of tank water may expedite recovery.