Black devil stingray
Potamotrygon leopoldi
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–84°F
- 20–29°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 23.6 in
- 60 cm
- Minimum tank
- 436 gal
- 1,650 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Livebearer
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Potamotrygonidae
- Origin
- Brazil
Overview
The black devil stingray is a solitary, aggressive river ray from Brazil. Only an advanced keeper should take one on.
Did you know
Freshwater rays like the black devil stingray can find buried prey without seeing it. Tiny pores around the mouth, called the ampullae of Lorenzini, pick up the faint electrical signals that living animals give off. That lets the ray pin down a fish hidden under the sand.
Caring for the black devil stingray
A black devil stingray needs at least 436 gal (1,650 L), which means a custom build or a pond, not a standard aquarium. It buries into open sand, so give it a large footprint of fine sand and no sharp decor. Add strong flow as well.
Rays are sensitive to nitrate and poor water quality, so keep the water spotless. Hold it at 68 to 84°F (20 to 29°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
It hunts fish, crustaceans and snails on the bottom. Feed meaty foods such as shrimp, fish and earthworms.
The venomous tail spine makes careless handling genuinely dangerous. Choose any tank mates with caution, and never keep more than one male in a tank. It gives live birth to a small number of well-developed pups.
Good to know
The black devil stingray, Potamotrygon leopoldi, is a freshwater stingray in the family Potamotrygonidae. All rays in that family are South American river rays. It is heavy-bodied and marked black with white spots. The species is listed as Vulnerable, with collection and habitat loss the main pressures.
In the wild
Black devil stingrays come from the Xingu River basin in Brazil. They live in clear, fast water over sand and rock with submerged wood.
Common questions
What size tank does a black devil stingray need?
A black devil stingray needs at least 436 gal (1,650 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a black devil stingray need?
A black devil stingray is comfortable at 68–84°F (20–29°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a black devil stingray eat?
A black devil stingray eats meaty foods such as shrimp, fish and earthworms. On the bottom, it hunts fish, crustaceans and snails.
How big does a black devil stingray get?
An adult black devil stingray reaches about 23.6 in (60 cm).
How does a black devil stingray breed?
A black devil stingray gives live birth to a small number of well-developed pups.
Related species
21.7 in (55 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Bigtooth river stingray
Potamotrygon henlei
21.7 in (55 cm) · 396 gal (1,500 L)
19.7 in (50 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Ocellate river stingray
Potamotrygon motoro
19.7 in (50 cm) · 264 gal (1,000 L)
23.6 in (60 cm)145 gal (550 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Marbled goby
Oxyeleotris marmorata
23.6 in (60 cm) · 145 gal (550 L)
23.6 in (60 cm)151 gal (570 L)72–90°F (22–32°C)Zebra shovelnose
Brachyplatystoma tigrinum
23.6 in (60 cm) · 151 gal (570 L)
23.6 in (60 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Zebra shovelnose catfish
Brachyplatystoma juruense
23.6 in (60 cm) · 396 gal (1,500 L)
25.6 in (65 cm)185 gal (700 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Redtail bagrid
Hemibagrus nemurus
25.6 in (65 cm) · 185 gal (700 L)