Motoro Stingray
Potamotrygon motoro
- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 50 cm
- Minimum tank
- 1944 litres
- Temperature
- 24–26 °C
Species profile
Longsnout distichodus
Distichodus lusosso
Common names: Longsnout Distichodus
Recognized speciesOddballs
Adult size
Up to 37.5 cm
Up to 37.5 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A keeper who has researched this fish and can match its needs
Think carefully if
- You cannot provide about 275 litres for a fully grown fish
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
An attractive, orange-finned juvenile that loses much of its colour with age and grows to about 37 cm. Keep alone or in a small group in 275 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
An attractive, orange-finned juvenile that loses much of its colour with age and grows to about 37 cm. It eats plants, so it is hard to place in a planted 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 1,100–1,380 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 275–425 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 275 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 94 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 1
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low to moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- High
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
Keep the pH steady, because this fish is sensitive to swings. Keep the temperature steady.
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
Not commonly bred in aquariums, and little has been recorded about how it spawns.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Africa, Angola, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo
- Natural habitat
- River
- Aquarium contexts
- Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Advanced
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Distichodus
- Family
- Distichodontidae
- Species group
- Fish, Oddballs
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