Tiger Stingray

Potamotrygon tigrina comes from the upper Amazon drainage in Peru and Ecuador, inhabiting clear to white-water rivers with sandy and gravelly substrates. Its pattern is arguably the most elaborate of any potamotrygonid: the disc displays cream to yellow ground colour overlaid with irregular dark brown reticular lines, while the tail bears bold tiger-stripe banding. This species commands among the highest prices of any freshwater stingray and is strictly regulated by CITES Appendix III. In captivity it requires warm, soft, very clean water and is less tolerant of suboptimal conditions than P. motoro. It is being bred in captivity by specialist facilities and dedicated hobbyists in Europe and Asia, and captive-bred specimens are strongly preferred on conservation grounds.

Water: 24–28°C, pH 5.5–6.8, very soft (1–5 dGH); pristine conditions mandatory; large regular water changes. Tank: Minimum 600L, fine sand, minimal decor, strong but gentle flow; dedicated stingray sump systems ideal. Feeding: Carnivore; earthworms, live or frozen bloodworm, prawn, mussel; may be a reluctant feeder initially. Breeding: Viviparous; successfully bred by specialists; litters small (2–5 pups); captive-bred animals highly preferred. Compatibility: Specialist species; best kept in a dedicated ray-only aquarium or with a few very large, gentle tankmates.