What Fish Can Live With Freshwater Stingrays?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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What fish can live with freshwater stingrays? The best tank mates for freshwater rays are other rays, although severums, Geophagus species, silver dollars, arowanas and bichirs are possibilities, as well. Different species and sizes of stingrays can be mixed as long as there is adequate space and filtration.

Are freshwater stingrays easy to keep?

Caring For Freshwater Stingrays

Stingrays can be fun to keep, and they do make great interactive pets. However, these fish are not suitable for beginners , and they can be challenging to feed and keep healthy.

Can you put a stingray with cichlids?

Rays get along fantastically with non-aggressive New World cichlids such as severums (Heros severus) . Just be certain that the cichlids are large enough not to be considered food by your rays, and they aren't stealing your ray's food! The bichir/ray combination is successful if the fishes involved are of similar size.

Will freshwater stingrays eat fish?

How big of a tank does a freshwater stingray need?

Bigger is always better for freshwater rays, but your looking at nothing less than a 225 gallon (72′′ x 30′′ x 24′′) glass tank . Juveniles or pups can be kept in an 80 gallon tank but will quickly outgrow their tank. The best approach will be to acquire a tank large enough to house them permanently.

Are freshwater stingrays aggressive?

Freshwater stingrays are generally non-aggressive , and the stingers are used strictly in self-defense.

How fast do freshwater stingrays grow?

Even those sold as “teacup rays” will reach at least 18 inches in diameter when mature ( 2-3 years ), and will require a tank measuring 4′ x 2′ x 2′ if they are to thrive. Adults of several trade species approach 3 feet in diameter.

How big does a teacup stingray get?

Teacup stingrays need big aquariums, no less than 125 gallons. They can reach a size of 15 inches , not including the tail. They need plenty of space to swim at the bottom of the tank. They prefer thick sand substrates.

Do stingrays live together?

Many stingrays like to live by themselves and only come together for breeding and migration . Some of the largest rays such as manta rays and cow nose rays never stop swimming and migrate in their thousands to feeding grounds each year. These large groups can reach up to 10,000 individuals and are known as a “fever“.

Can stingrays do math?

Researchers used stingrays (left) and cichlids in a study that shows fish can do math. Image via University of Bonn. Researchers at the University of Bonn announced on April 1, 2022, that they've taught fish to do math.

What fish can I put with my stingray?

The best tank mates for freshwater rays are other rays, although severums, Geophagus species, silver dollars, arowanas and bichirs are possibilities, as well. Different species and sizes of stingrays can be mixed as long as there is adequate space and filtration.

How long do freshwater stingrays live?

The lifespan of a freshwater stingray in the wild is currently unknown. In human care, they live between 5 and 10 years .

How big do giant freshwater stingrays get?

Most likely the world's largest , the giant freshwater stingray can weigh up to 600kg and grow to a length of 5m from nose to tail .

Do stingrays like being pet?

“We think we have pretty strong evidence that they don't get anything negative out of it,” Van Bonn said. “In fact, there's evidence that they do get something out of it and they seem to enjoy it .”

Does it hurt a stingray to remove its barb?

Because barbs are serrated, they tear at flesh when removed, and it's unlikely that pulling them out will lower exposure to any venom . Sharp objects can also act as plugs that stem excessive bleeding until help arrives, said Dr. Adam E. Saltman, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn.

What is the smallest species of freshwater stingray?

Porcupine River Stingray

What is this? As a smaller species, Porcupine River Stingrays do well in moderately sized aquariums as small as 125 gallons.

Can I touch a stingray?

Are stingrays smart?

Manta rays and stingrays have both garnered a reputation for their high levels of intelligence . In particular, manta rays rank among the most intelligent animals on the planet.

How painful is a stingray sting?

The main symptom of a stingray sting is immediate severe pain . Although often limited to the injured area, the pain may spread rapidly, reaching its greatest intensity in < 90 minutes; in most cases, pain gradually diminishes over 6 to 48 hours but occasionally lasts days or weeks.

How do stingrays get pregnant?

Unlike most fish species which have external fertilization and don't undertake any parental care, stingray mothers keep her eggs safely inside her during development . The mother then gives birth to live young. This type of reproduction is called ovoviviparity.

What are baby stingrays called?

One of the most common freshwater stingrays is the river stingray, and the mother will give birth to live babies, which are called pups .

Do stingrays like cold water?

Stingrays like warm and shallow water . Most of their time, they will be hidden on the ocean floor. There are 60 different species of stingrays.

What is the smallest stingray you can buy?

Being the smallest stingray species, teacup stingrays adapts well with a few tank ornaments and even tankmates.

Are teacup stingrays freshwater?

Teacup stingray is a group of freshwater circular-shaped bottom dwellers native to and mainly centered in the tropical rivers of South America. It might be a new thing to many people reading this article that some stingrays also inhabit the freshwaters.

How big is the smallest stingray?

The smallest West African stingray, this species grows to 30 cm (12 in) across and a weight of 1 kg (2.2 lb) . The pearl stingray differs from the daisy stingray in being much smaller, and having a relatively smaller, oval pearl spine, more tooth rows, and fewer pectoral fin radials (113–127 versus 129–136).

Why do stingrays smile?

The stingray curls up on being tickled. Some social media users also pointed out that the perception of the ray as “smiling” when tickled is a classic example of anthropomorphisation when people attribute human emotions to animal expressions .

Are stingrays territorial?

The fact that the Stingray will come very close to them often is part of the myths that they are creatures looking for humans to sting. They are aggressive about territory though so when it finds something out of the ordinary there it will go to investigate.

How long can stingrays stay out of water?

Never hold a ray out of the water longer than 4 minutes . A longer timespan can damage the ray. It's important not to hold the ray out of the water longer than necessary.

What fish can count?

Mosquitofish , freshwater fish with a taste for mosquito larvae, are highly social. When a mosquitofish finds itself alone, its top priority becomes finding others. A previous study showed that the fish can, in fact, “count”—differentiating between numerical quantities in a lab experiment.

Can stingrays add and subtract?

Cichlids and stingrays can perform simple addition and subtraction in the number range of one to five . This has been shown in a recent study by the University of Bonn, which has now been published in the journal Scientific Reports. It is not known what the animals need their mathematical abilities for.

Can chimpanzees add?

Previous research has shown that chimpanzees can add single-digit numbers . But scientists haven't explained exactly how, in the human or the monkey brain, numbers are being represented or this addition is being carried out. Now, a new study helps begin to answer those questions.

How long can stingrays go without food?

Stingrays typically eat 2-3 times a day. However, they can go without food for up to two weeks . This is likely because stingrays can store fat in their bodies.

How do you acclimate a freshwater stingray?

Do stingray barbs grow back?

Barbs will regrow eventually , so this is a great way of not getting injured while not depriving the ray of a lifetime being defenceless against its natural predators, sharks and orca,” she said.

How do you tell the difference between a male and female stingray?

The difference between male and females is their pelvic fins . Males have two elongated appendages known as claspers whereas females don't have these. Stingrays can breathe while feeding thanks to spiracles – vestigial gill slits behind their eyes.

Do stingrays eat fish?

Stingrays are purely carnivorous and, like most carnivores, they like to eat animals smaller than themselves. In particular, they like to eat animals that live on or beneath the sand like worms, clams, oysters, snails and shrimp . A la carte for stingrays are small fish and squid.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.