Stingray is unique to all aquarium fish because it is very similar to a shark. What is the smallest freshwater stingray?
A stingray is not as hardy as most other fish. It is essential to treat them with care.
In this article, we check out the significant variations in the sizes of different types of Stingray.
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What Is The Smallest Freshwater Stingray?
The smallest freshwater Stingrays is the Potamotrygon scobina which grows to have a disk size width of 8″ up to 12″ across.
They are only about half the size of the most massive Stingray. Mottled Stingray, Hystrix, and Mosaic stingray can only reach a size around the region of 14 inches.
What Size Tank Do You Need for a Potamotrygon scobina Stingray?
For a Potamotrygon scobina you will need a tank size of 72″ by 24″ minimum to keep one of these fish. These fish require a lot of floor space to swim around in.
It is also recommended to put plants and ornoments at the side in your tank which will enable these stingrays to be able to freely swim around your tank.
How Big Do Teacup Stingrays Get?
A teacup stingray will grown to have a disk size of 15″. They will require a large aquarium tank if you wish to keep them.
Despite the name “Teacup” they are not the smallest stingrays you can get. A teacup stingray is a freshwater fish that needs to be kept in a tank that is between 76-82 degrees F and a pH level of between 6-7.
If you are looking to keep a teacup stingray you might need a permit to keep them.
What Fish Can You Keep With Small Stingrays?
Stingray fish are generally peaceful fish which mean that they can be kept with many different breeds of fish.
The best tank mates you can keep with small stingrays are
- Other small stingrays
- Silver Dollar
- Arowana
- Angelfish
- Severums
- Geophagus
Avoid plecostomus and suckermouth catfish as they are known to injure stingrays by sucking on them.
5 Small Freshwater Aquarium Stingrays
Here is a list of the five smallest freshwater aquarium stingrays:
- Black Diamond Stingray
- Eclipse Stingray
- Mottled Stingray
- Mosaic Stingray
- Galaxy Stingray
1. Black Diamond Stingray
Black diamond is one of the most beautiful freshwater stingrays typical in the aquarium. The body of black diamond, as the name implies, has a dark body with few white spots.
The white spots on its body are particularly dense around the eyes region of the fish. The edge of the black diamond’s disk has a dual row of white spots. The pattern on their body usually has patterns and shapes.
Aside from the fact that black diamonds are fascinating and beautiful, they are also very affordable for most aquarists.
2. Eclipse Stingray
Eclipse stingray is quite similar to the Black diamond stingray. However, the black in eclipse stingray is more profound than that of the black diamond stingray, and the whites are less dense.
However, the overall pattern of the colors gives a moon shape; hence, the name. This type of stingray can grow up to 24 inches having several spines along its tail line.
This spine usually carries the venom of eclipse stingray. It is, however, relatively expensive when compared to other species of stingray.
3. Mottled Stingray
Mottled stingray has some noticeable features that make it distinct from the other types of stingrays. Likewise, mottled stingrays can grow up to 14 inches, which is about half the size of the most massive stingray.
They can either have a brown color or a dark brown color. The patterns on their body are also irregular; however, it has some light brown spots around the disk region to form a ring.
It is essential to know that the size of mottled stingray should not limit the size of the tank. They require large containers for them to thrive.
4. Mosaic Stingray
Mosaic stingray is one of the favorites of most aquarists because it offers something different from other members of the stingrays.
Instead of the regular black, dark black, and brown color, mosaic stingray gives beige color.
The name mosaic stingray is from the pattern of the brown lines arranged around the white base. Mosaic stingray can grow up to 18 inches in the wild but hardly exceeds 14 inches in an aquarium.
5. Galaxy Stingray
The peculiar feature of the galaxy stingray is the space-like patterns. The base of galaxy stingray has a black base, but it can be altered depending on the ray you expose them to at any point.
Depending on the beam, it can give a black or dark brown coloration. Galaxy stingray is usually brown at birth, but they undergo a color transition as they grow.
The shift in the brown color gives a black coloration and whit variation with time. It is very appealing in the tank because it looks like the sky. They can grow up to 26 inches when they fully grow.
Care Of Freshwater Stingray
Stingrays are not as hardy as most other types of freshwater fish. They need:
- special care
- housing
- near perfect water parameters
They are particularly suitable for seasoned aquarists. Nevertheless, the hardest part of caring for stingray is setting up their housing. Once the house is in perfect order, the rest is easy.
Stingray Stress
The first thing you should note about stingray is that they don’t like stress; therefore, you should create an environment that is free of fear.
They usually find it very hard to cope in a stressful situation, the lower the stress in their environment, the higher their survival chances, particularly in new settings.
Environmental Parameters
Once you can be sure of the environmental parameters, the rest of the care is relatively easy.
- Feed stingrays as often as needed.
- Avoid the accumulation of toxins in their tank.
- Keep them with suitable tank mates.
- Make sure that they have enough space to move around.
It is straightforward to spot stingray when they are sick because they wouldn’t eat as much as they should do, and they will start breathing heavily.
Water And Tank Requirements Of Stingrays
Stingray usually requires tropical water. They prefer water within the range of 75-78°F; therefore, you shouldn’t allow much deviation.
Likewise, they prefer a pH range around the neutral region. They also prefer soft water to complement this pH.
Stingrays love to have enough space in their tank. They detest anything that can cause stress to them in the tank. Large tank size allows them to swim around freely without disturbance, and it also grows to full length without any hindrance.
Stingray Substrate
Substrates in the tank of stingray make the environment more suitable for them. However, avoid introducing a highly coarse substrate like sand and rock. Softer and smoother substrates like smooth or fine sand can make a suitable substrate.
Stingrays and Plants
Keeping plants in the tanks of stingrays might not be too good because they will most likely uproot. Therefore, they prefer a plain bottom tank.
You should also ensure that you protect your tank accessories like pipes, heaters, and filters with rocks to prevent stingrays from tampering with them.
Conclusion
Stingrays are not as hardy as many other aquarium fish. They require special care, particularly in their tank requirements and stress-related factors.
Keeping their tank requirements intact will keep them healthy. They also prefer a large tank and less crowded tanks to allow them to move around freely.
Nevertheless, despite the difficulty in keeping stingray in the tank, it is worth it because they provide a beautiful outlook to your tank.
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