Freshwater stingray: description with photo, conditions of keeping, breeding and care

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Scat is a "pancake" with a long tail. On the head of the "pancake" are two protrusions called eyes. The appearance of the fish is unusual, it will become the highlight of the aquarium.

Wait, is it ok to keep a stingray in an aquarium? This is a sea fish that painfully beats with current. That's what it's called - an electric ramp. We will deal with this in detail in the article.

Miracle Yudo, stingray fish

Flattened body, and pectoral fins fused around the head. Add here a long tail resembling a whip and two pimple eyes. In front of you is a freshwater stingray.

In general, these fish are divided into marine and freshwater. The first live quietly in the waters of the Antarctic and the Arctic. Yes, stingrays can live not only in warm waters. By the way, these individuals reach impressive sizes. Some species grow up to 6.5 meters.

Home Views

For those who dream of unusual fish, you should study the types of freshwater stingrays. So that it does not take much time, we have chosen the main ones:

• Paratrygon;
• Piesiotrygon;
• Potamotrygon;

The third subspecies is the most common among amateur aquarists. It is also called the big-eyed or reticulated freshwater stingray. Despite the last name, the color of the fish is quite diverse.

Containment conditions

We won't discover America if we single out the basic things needed to keep a stingray.

• Aquarium. Large, 400 liters. If you decide on two or more individuals, you will have to buy a giant container. Don't worry, 1,000 liter tanks, and even 2,000 liters, are no problem these days.
• Aquarium freshwater stingray knows how to adapt. For him, the hardness and acidity of the water is not important. Of course, within reason, but not in the first place. As for the temperature, here the fish are picky. This is not from harm, but from love for warmth. Love is a good thing, only the owner will have to think hard about providing a warm aquarium. And the stingray has its own requirements: the minimum water temperature is 26 degrees. It will be lower, the fish will immediately decide that it is necessary to get sick. And at the warmest point, the temperature should reach 31-35 degrees.
• They say that stingrays like to dig into the ground. Nothing like this, according to aquarists. Our freshwater comrades are unique. They live in aquariums without soil, and they do not know grief. But, they will not refuse soft sand. Or from round pebbles.
• Freshwater stingrays in the aquarium - not only its decoration. They are also excellent designers. Everything will be rummaged, underreshape themselves. Planted by the owner of the plant in the evening, fell asleep soundly. In the morning I woke up, looked at the aquarium and was speechless. All landings float on the surface. Crooked, oblique, with broken roots. And the stingrays strenuously pretend that they have nothing to do with it. They lie at the very bottom and pretend to be a flattened cutlet. Therefore, owners of aquariums who love planting, please be patient. Better yet, pots for your plants. And plant them right in their pots.
• Food is the stingray's sore spot. This guy loves to eat. And you can't get away with regular food. In general, lovers of these fish categorically do not recommend offering them food. Read more about stingray nutrition in another subsection.

Building an aquarium

To keep a freshwater stingray you will need a large aquarium. This is what we found out. But an aquarium is an "apartment box". It must be brought into proper shape, provided with the necessary things.

When a human apartment is purchased, it is supplied with electrical wiring and plumbing pipes. In our case, the filter and heater will replace the wiring and pipes.

Let's choose a filter. They are divided into two types: external and internal. We dismiss the internal one, if you have an aquarium of 1,000 liters, the internal one will sink in it. Pay attention to external filters, which are designed for volumes from 1,000 to 1,500 thousand.

Heaters are harder. Either you have to look for those intended for large volumes, or buy several at once. Only the second option is more dangerous, the water may not warm up properlyway.

What else do you need? Curbstone under an aquarium. And there is no need to resist, declaring that an excellent bedside table has already been prepared. The aquarium is large, heavy in itself. And its weight together with water is better not to voice. As our nightstand made of chipboard breaks through, and you have to look for a freshwater stingray on the floor. It is better to spend money and buy a special aquarium cabinet. It is already reinforced, designed for large tanks. And unpleasant surprises can be avoided.

Yes, also: an aquarium mat. The fact is that the smallest mote can get under the bottom. Or, a tiny unevenness that is invisible to the eye, but can lead to a skewed container. Eventually the glass will break. Can you imagine the size of the disaster? It is easier to play it safe than to solve the problem on an emergency basis later. Mats for aquariums are sold in pet stores. They are a black foam piece that is cut off in front of you, to the required length and width of the aquarium.

Looks like everyone didn't forget anything. We talked about plants and soil above.

Choose a stingray

Day "X" has come, we go for the fish. Here it is, our "plate" flattened. Swimming in a large, empty aquarium, twitching its tail. Everyone, take the poor fellow! Why would he sit here alone?

Wait, dear hosts. Who chooses fish like that? Especially not cheap. Well, look at the tail. Are there any kinks, white spots or rot on it. What does the base look like? Thicker than the bottom of the tail? If the base is two or three times thicker, and the tail is clean and whole, the fish is he althy.

Another sign of he alth is fat bumps. They are closer to the tail. Found? If they jut out well over your body, you're in luck.

The color of the fish is an indicator of good he alth. Evenly colored freshwater, without white spots and bald spots, inspires confidence.

By the way, it is not recommended to take small fish. Small freshwater stingrays, whose diameter is 10-12 centimeters, are sick. Or very, very tiny in age.

Brought him home

Our freshwater stingray at home. They put him in an aquarium, the fish swims, flaunts. Suddenly he swims up to the glass, clings to it and opens his mouth invitingly. So she says it's time for lunch.

The owner pours dry food to the "new settler", and he twitches his tail in disgust and swims away. The owner is perplexed: good food, why didn’t the stingray like it? They do not eat dry food, as discussed above.

What to feed the capricious? We buy a large lake bloodworm. Attention, only lake! Estuary for feeding the stingray is not suitable. We wash the bloodworm, freeze it. Before you treat the fish, bloodworms are subjected to heat treatment. No, it does not need to be boiled, stewed or baked. Everything is simpler, just scald with boiling water.

This is the main dish for your fish. Second is the shrimp. The stingrays are very respectful of boiled-frozen krill. When buying shrimp, do not take peeled ones. The fact is that when they are cleaned industrially, chemicals are used. And it is unlikely that the stingray will be grateful for food with the addition of chemistry. The owner will have to buy standardshrimp, clean it yourself and then feed it to an unusual pet.

As a top dressing, the stingray is treated with squid, cod fillet or pollock. Speaking of squid: buy only Peruvian. Far East, according to stingray owners, is too hard for pets.

Also, it's a good idea to give scallops at least once a week. This delicacy is rich in silicon, and if the owner decides to breed stingrays, then the scallop will be of great use.

Breeding

Is there a giant freshwater stingray? Yes, there is one. Only a two-meter fish that looks like a pancake is not at all suitable for keeping in an aquarium.

But we digress, back to breeding these comrades. First choose a couple. Despite the appearance of the stingray, gender differences are pronounced. The male has paired sex organs. These are two thin tubes located on both sides of the tail.

Gender differences sorted out. Now, we will find out that females are viviparous. And their pregnancy lasts 14-20 weeks. Babies are born - an exact copy of an adult stingray. A characteristic fact: a trifle in the mother's body is folded into a tube. When stingrays are born, their body straightens up.

Conclusion

Here it is - a freshwater stingray. Capricious, mischievous, loving seafood and comfort in the aquarium. But so beautiful that all his whims fade.