---> Freshwater Stingray Profiles <---

[Miles]

Potamotrygon Motoro - P1

Common Names: Ocellated River Stingray, Spotted River Ray

Distribution: Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, French
Guyana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, Paraná-Paraguay, Orinoco, and Amazon River basins.

Maximum Size (Disc Width): appx. 30"+, females get larger.

Juvenile Tank Footprint: 60"x18"

Adult Tank Footprint: 96"x48"

Feeding Habits: P. Motoro tend to have good feeding habits. They usually accept live foods upon arrival, and wean to prepared foods easily. They can be aggressive feeders towards maturity.

Ease of Keeping: P. Motoro are known as the most available, hardiest, easiest to keep 'beginner' ray. However, it's large tank size requirements become a daunting task once the ray grows large.

Info: Potamotrygon Motoro is found in nearly every river basin in South America. The P1 Motoro is the most common, and comes in a variety of pattern morphs. Potamotrygon Motoro also has dozens of geographical variants, with a wide range of patterns differing from the classic P1 Motoro. *See pictures below.

For further photos, please check link below.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280441

 

[Miles]

*Potamotrygon Motoro variants:
Marbled Motoro
Chain-Link Motoro
Triple Spot Motoro
Blue Motoro
*(note: Blue Motoro loses color with age.)

 

[Miles]

Potamotrygon Reticulata

Common Names: Reticulated River Ray, Teacup Ray, Colombian Ray

Distribution: Magdalena and Atrato Rivers, Colombia

Maximum Size (Disc Width): appx. 14"+, females get larger.

*Note: P. Magdalenae have elongated tails, total length adult: 30".
This is considered one of the 3 smallest Freshwater Stingrays.

Juvenile Tank Footprint: 48"x18"

Adult Tank Footprint: 72"x30"

Feeding Habits: P. Reticulata tend to very finicky eaters, especially when juvenile. They tend to only eat small live foods, such as ghost shrimp and blackworms for the first few months in captivity. Once acclimated, they can be weaned to other small prepared foods.

Info: Potamotrygon Reticulata is one of the most common and mis-identified stingrays in the aquarium hobby. Often Exported and Imported as 'Teacup' Stingray, a generic term used for a juvenile stingray with no identification. This species is more prone to becoming neglected during shipment, and being of very poor quality once acclimated in a local fish store. Parasites are a very common secondary infection due to stress and improper husbandry while at distributorships. P. Reticulata come in a number of different color variants and patterns. Both geographical variations will be noted in the photo gallery, as their is still much confusion to the identification of this particular species. It is believed that their are actually 2 seperate sub-species of P. Reticulkata, with names such as 'Red Reticulata, Potamotrygon sp. "Red", and Colombian Red Ray."

R.S Rosa recently hypothesized that P. Reticulata is synonymous with Potamotrygon Orbignyi, and should be classified as such. Hobbyists have noted some morphological differences in what seems to be 2 separate sub-species, such as the tail structure varying from one specimen to the next. It is near impossible to use these physical characteristics in home aquaria as defining parameters in the variations, due to shipping damage of the tail structure. Other defining characteristics in the variations have been noted as well, including the pattern and coloration on the underside of one P. Reticulata, while this characteristic is unfound in some other varieties of P. Reticulata.

 

[Miles]

Potamotrygon cf. Hystrix (True Hystrix)
(synonyms; Potamotrygon sp. "C", cururu ray.)

Common Names: Porcupine River Ray, Teacup Ray, Cururu River Ray, "True" Hystrix Stingray.

Distribution: Rio Negro, Brazil

Maximum Size (Disc Width): appx. 14"+
This is considered one of the 3 smallest Freshwater Stingrays.

Juvenile Tank Footprint: 48"x18"

Adult Tank Footprint: 72"x30"

Feeding Habits: P. cf. Hystrix are not finicky eaters.

Info: This ray is very hard to acquire with the recent closure of the Brazilian exportation of freshwater potamotrygon. This species is not to be confused with the false P. Hystrix exported from Peru.

Confusion: Potamotrygon cf. Hystrix is often confused with the original holotype collected from Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is, by science, considered the true "P. Histrix". Fishbase.org shows a very different fish under P. Hystrix, likely the one commonly collected in Peru.

For further photos, please check link below.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280550

 

[Miles]

Potamotrygon Scobina

Common Names: Raspy River Stingray

Distribution: Middle & Lower Amazon system from Manaus to Belem.

Maximum Size (Disc Width): appx. 13"+
This is considered one of the 3 smallest Freshwater Stingrays.

Juvenile Tank Footprint: 48"x18"

Adult Tank Footprint: 72"x24"

Feeding Habits: P. Scobina tend to be hardy eaters, as long as they are in good health when arrived. Once acclimated, they can be weaned to frozen and prepared foods. Towards adulthood, they will eat more vigorously.

Info: This ray is very hard to acquire with the recent closure of the Brazilian exportation of freshwater potamotrygon. This is considered the smallest of the freshwater stingrays. It's pattern and body structure are very distinct, especially near the eyes and spiracles. This ray comes in many different variations, and is being bred widely in Europe.

 

[Miles]

Potamotrygon Schroederi "Colombia"

Common Names: Flower Ray

Distribution: Apure River, Orinoco Basins, Venezuela & Colombia

Maximum Size (Disc Width): appx. 36"+

Juvenile Tank Footprint: 72"x24"

Adult Tank Footprint: 120"x48"+

Feeding Habits: P. Schroederi tend to have finicky feeding habits. They usually accept live foods upon arrival, and wean to prepared foods over an extended period of time. They can be less aggressive eaters towards other tankmates/

Info: Potamotrygon Schroederi - The 'True' Flower Ray, is one of the specialty rays of the potamotrygon family. Similiar to P. Menchacai, this ray has finicky eating habits, large size, and a beautiful pattern. It's elongated tail makes the need for an especially large tank towards adulthood.

For further photos, please check link below.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280444

 

[Miles]

Potamotrygon Menchacai "Tiger"

Common Names: Tiger Ray

Distribution: Peru, Venezuela & Colombia

Maximum Size (Disc Width): appx. 36"+

Juvenile Tank Footprint: 72"x24"

Adult Tank Footprint: 120"x48"

Feeding Habits: P. Menchacai tend to have finicky feeding habits. They usually accept live foods upon arrival, and wean to prepared foods over an extended period of time. They can be less aggressive eaters towards other tankmates/

Info: Potamotrygon Menchacai - The 'True' Tiger Ray, is one of the specialty rays of the potamotrygon family. Similiar to P. Schroederi, this ray has finicky eating habits, large size, and a beautiful pattern. It's elongated tail makes the need for an especially large tank towards adulthood.

P. Menchacai may not be considered the correct name for this stingray, as the scientific classification of the holotype takes place in Argentina, a far distance from where the Tiger rays are collected. This is a common name mix up, but it has been brandished the name in the aquarium hobby. (Potamotrygon menchacai ACHENBACH 1967 t/l;Rio Colastine, Parana system,Santa Fe,Argentina.)

 

[Miles]

Potamotrygon Leopoldi

Common Names: Polka-Dot River Stingray, Spotted River Ray, White-Blotched River Stingray.

Distribution: Xingu and Fresco Rivers, Xingu River Basin, Brazil

Maximum Size (Disc Width): appx. 30"+, females get larger.

Juvenile Tank Footprint: 72"x18"

Adult Tank Footprint: 96"x48"

Feeding Habits: P. Leopoldi tend to finicky eaters at first, but once acclimated they have good feeding habits. Leopoldi usually accept specialty live foods upon arrival, and wean to prepared foods easily.

Info: Potamotrygon Leopoldi is one of the most sought after stingrays in the hobby. Since it's recent ban from export from Brazil, the price of Leopoldi have became increasingly high, as they are near impossible to acquire. Once acclimated, they are a very hardy and prolific ray.

www.h20CustomAquatics.com is the only commercial Captive Breeder of Leopoldi in the United States.

For further photos, please check link below.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280448

 

[Miles]

Potamotrygon Henlei

Common Names: Polka-Dot River Stingray, Spotted River Ray, Orange-Blotched River Stingray, Big-Tooth River Stingray.

Distribution: Tocantins & Araguaia rivers, Tocantins River Basin, Brazil

Maximum Size (Disc Width): appx. 24"+, females get larger.

Juvenile Tank Footprint: 72"x18"

Adult Tank Footprint: 96"x48"

Feeding Habits: P. Henlei tend to finicky eaters at first, but once acclimated they have good feeding habits. Henlei usually accept specialty live foods upon arrival, and wean to prepared foods easily.

Info: Potamotrygon Henlei is one of the more sought after stingrays in the hobby. Since it's recent ban from export from Brazil, the price of Henlei have became increasingly high, as they are near impossible to acquire. Once acclimated, they are a very hardy and prolific ray.

 

[Miles]

Potamotrygon sp. "Itaituba" - P14

Common Names: Polka-Dot River Stingray, Spotted River Ray, Galaxy River Ray, Black 'Estrella' Ray.

Distribution: Rio Tapajos, Xingu River Basin, Itaituba, Brazil

Maximum Size (Disc Width): appx. 18"+

Juvenile Tank Footprint: 72"x18"

Adult Tank Footprint: 96"x36"

Feeding Habits: P14 tend to finicky eaters at first, but once acclimated they have good feeding habits. P14 usually accept specialty live foods upon arrival, and wean to prepared foods easily.

Info: Potamotrygon sp. "Itaituba" is believed by many to be a seperate species than Leopoldi. However, others believe it is a variant of P13 Leopoldi, because of the region it is collected from. It is distinguished from normal Leopoldi by it's differentiated pattern and extra spotting around the disc margin, smaller maximum size, and a mottled underside.

P14 Note: P14 was originally designated for the Leopoldi - Eclipse variation by Dr. Ross. However, after some time in the pet trade P14 was somehow re-designated to the 'Black Estrella' or 'Black Galaxy' ray that looks similar to Leopoldi. This has created some confusion, and although P14 was first designated for Eclipse rays, it is better suited at this time for Itaituba rays.