Itaituba Stingray

Potamotrygon albimaculata was formally described in 2016 from the Tapajós River drainage around the town of Itaituba in Pará state, Brazil. Its disc is dark brown to olive, covered in a dense arrangement of small pale to white spots that give it a galaxy-like appearance. Adults remain relatively compact at around 35cm disc width, making the species slightly more manageable than larger spotted potamotrygonids. Despite its recent description the species is now regularly bred in European captivity and has an established husbandry profile. Water conditions should mirror those of other Tapajós and Xingu species: warm, very soft, clean, and mildly acidic. It pairs well with other similarly sized potamotrygonids in very large specialist aquaria.

Water: 24–28°C, pH 5.5–6.5, very soft (1–5 dGH); RO or soft tap water; zero ammonia/nitrite tolerance. Tank: Minimum 400L, fine sand, open floor space; efficient biological filtration; weekly 30–40% water changes. Feeding: Carnivore; earthworms, frozen bloodworm, prawn; varied diet promotes health and colouration. Breeding: Viviparous; litters 2–6 pups; increasingly bred in Europe by dedicated keepers. Compatibility: Peaceful large fish; compatible with other medium potamotrygonids in sufficiently large setups.