Ocellate River Stingray Ocellate River Stingray (Potamotrygon motoro) — also called the Motoro Stingray — is one of the most popular and widely kept freshwater stingrays, prized for its distinctive pattern of yellow-orange spots ringed in black against a brown or beige disc. It is also one of the most demanding animals in this entire store, and is genuinely not suited for anyone without prior large-fish or stingray-specific experience. ⚠ Venomous Spine — Read Before You Buy: This species carries a venomous stinger at the base of its tail, used purely in self-defense, not aggression. A sting causes significant pain and requires prompt medical attention. Even a discarded shed stinger remains venomous — handle substrate, decor, and tank maintenance tools with real caution, and never put a hand or foot down onto sand where the ray might be resting buried. This is a serious, not theoretical, risk and should factor into your decision before purchase. Ocellate River Stingrays grow large — over 1½ feet in disc width as adults — and require a genuinely large aquarium with as much horizontal floor space as possible; height matters far less than length and width for this species. A single adult needs a tank in the range of 180–450 gallons depending on how you plan to house it long-term, with soft sand substrate for resting and burying, dim lighting, and minimal decor to maximize open swimming space. ⚠ Tight-Fitting Lid Required: This species can jump. Combined with the venomous spine, an escaped ray is a genuine hazard — always keep the tank securely covered. Feeding & Care Tip: This is a high-metabolism fish that is almost constantly moving and needs to be fed accordingly — live or frozen shrimp and mussel are the true staple, fed to satiation at least twice daily, not just "meaty food" in small amounts. Juveniles can be started on bloodworm, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and chopped krill, graduating to larger items like cockles, prawns, river shrimp, and pieces of white fish flesh as adults. All this feeding produces substantial waste, so plan filtration capable of multiple turnovers per hour and commit to a strict water change schedule. Water quality must be excellent and exceptionally stable — this species is highly sensitive to fluctuations, and rapid changes in temperature or chemistry are genuinely dangerous to it. Maintain a consistent pH of 6.0–7.0 and soft water; the species' true wild parameters run more acidic (down to 5.0), but most successful long-term aquarium keepers stabilize closer to neutral for safer, more sustainable water chemistry at the scale these tanks require. Choose tankmates carefully — large, peaceful, robust mid-water or surface-dwelling fish work best; avoid aggressive species that could damage the ray's disc, and avoid housing with Loricariid catfish (plecos), which is specifically discouraged for this species. Males can become aggressive toward females during breeding and may need to be separated after every 2–3 litters to let the female recover. With excellent care, this species can live 10–20 years in captivity. Care & Ideal Parameters Difficulty Advanced — not for beginners or first-time large-fish keepers Temperament Generally peaceful but predatory toward small fish; venomous defense spine Adult Size Disc width over 1.5 feet (45+ cm) Minimum Tank Size 180 gallons minimum, 450+ gallons for long-term adult housing Ideal Temp 75–80°F (24–27°C) Ideal pH 6.0–7.0 — softer/lower end matches wild habitat, most keepers stabilize near neutral for safety Ideal GH 3–10 dGH — soft water; does not tolerate hard water well Primary Food Live/frozen shrimp and mussel, fed to satiation 2× daily minimum Supplemental Food Bloodworm, krill, cockles, prawns, white fish flesh (rotate for variety) Lifespan 10–20 years in captivity with excellent care Origin Amazon, Orinoco, Paraná-Paraguay, and Río de la Plata basins, South America Notes VENOMOUS — see warning above. Tight lid required, this species jumps. Avoid Loricariid tankmates. Soft sand substrate essential for natural resting/burying behavior.
