Get a Huge Tank

All fish

Black Diamond Stingray

Potamotrygon leopoldi

Freshwater South America Usually captive bred

A striking river stingray boasting a velvety black disc covered in brilliant, stark white spots. Native to the Xingu basin, it requires pristine water, massive footprints, and very fine sand. The venomous spine on its tail makes careful maintenance compulsory, and its adult disc diameter requires an enormous tank.

Also called: White-blotched river stingray, Xingu River Ray.

60 cm adult length, drawn to scale. flat body.

Outgrows a typical home tank. Check this fish against the adult size above before buying a juvenile. The minimum shown is the least it is kept in for good, not a comfortable size.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 60 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 1200 L, at least 220 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 400 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 5 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 25 to 29 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 6 to 7.2 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 3 to 8, KH 2 to 6 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow High Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Dim Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size Single fish is fine Not a schooling species.
Temperament Semi-aggressive Territorial: weak.
Swims in Near the bottom Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 15 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Experienced keepers only A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.
Jumps Yes Keep the tank covered.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Black Diamond Stingray is an carnivore that swims in the lowest part of the tank. It eats or uproots plants, so choose hard-leaved species or none. It digs, so anchor plants and keep hard rock off loose sand. It will eat fish small enough to swallow.

Tankmates

Works with

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.