Zig-zag Eel
Mastacembelus armatus
- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 91 cm
- Minimum tank
- 432 litres
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
Species profile
White-blotched River Stingray
Potamotrygon leopoldi
Common names: White-blotched River Stingray, Polka Dot Stingray, Xingu River Ray
Recognized speciesOddballs
Adult size
Up to 70 cm
Up to 70 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A keeper with room for a large aquarium
Think carefully if
- Your tap water is hard and you do not want to treat it
- You keep smaller fish, which it may eat
- You cannot provide about 1944 litres for a fully grown fish
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A black freshwater stingray with white spots, one of the most striking fish in the hobby, at a price to match. Keep alone or in a small group in 1944 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A black freshwater stingray with white spots, one of the most striking fish in the hobby, at a price to match. Exports from Brazil are now illegal, so ask where any fish came from. It has a venomous tail spine, and it needs a huge tank.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Sexes are often hard to tell apart.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 3,890–5,830 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 1950–2925 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 1944 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 240 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 1
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
This is an unusual fish with particular needs, so plan the tank around it. Check the adult size before you buy, and use a secure lid.
Behaviour and Tankmates
An unusual fish, kept for its looks and behaviour rather than as a community fish.
Varies by species, so see the notes.
Varies by species.
Choose tankmates with care, and check whether it will eat small fish, or be bullied by faster ones. It is likely to eat shrimp.
Water Parameters
Needs soft water.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Quality pellets or flakeA good staple. Choose a size that fits its mouth.
- Frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimpOffer several times a week for colour and condition.
- Algae or vegetable-based foodInclude some plant matter for balance.
Diet varies, so check what your fish accepts when you buy it.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding difficulty
- Not commonly bred
- Parental care
- Unknown
Little has been recorded about breeding this fish in aquariums.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Brazil, South America
- Natural habitat
- Lake, Pond, River
- Aquarium contexts
- Large Freshwater Aquarium, Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Specialist
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Potamotrygon
- Family
- Potamotrygonidae
- Species group
- Fish, Oddballs
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Amazon Leaffish
Monocirrhus polyacanthus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 68 litres
- Temperature
- 23–29 °C
Armoured Stickleback
Indostomus paradoxus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 16 litres
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C
Banded Archerfish
Toxotes jaculatrix
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 432 litres
- Temperature
- 25–30 °C