Edit Potamotrygon leopoldi
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Name
Scientific name
Potamotrygon leopoldi
Described by
Authority Castex & Castello, Year 1970
Family
Potamotrygonidae
Common names
Polka Dot Stingray, P13/14, P62
Photograph credits
All 1 credited
Summary
The polka dot stingray, Potamotrygon leopoldi, is a freshwater stingray known only from the Rio Xingu basin and Rio Fresco in central Brazi…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
700mm
Aquarium size
Minimum length 240 cm, Minimum depth 90 cm, Minimum height 75 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 20–29°C, pH 6–7.5
Hardness
0–5dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Predatory
Social needs
Not recorded
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Brazil
Writing
Etymology
Not written yet
Distribution
Known only from the Rio Xingu basin and Rio Fresco in central Brazil.
Habitat
Like other members of the genus it inhabits a variety of biotopes. These include sand banks, the shallows of major rivers and slow-moving tributaries with subs…
Aquarium size
An adult or pair will need a tank measuring at least 240 ∗ 90 ∗ 75 cm/~1620 litres.
Maintenance
Strictly speaking, decor isn't really necessary in a tank set up to house rays. You can however add some large chunks of bogwood, beech branches or smooth rock…
Water conditions
Temperature: 20 – 29 °C. Preferably towards the upper end of this range. pH: 6.0 - 7.5 Hardness: Ideally less than 5°H to reflect the species' natural waters. …
Diet
Wild rays feed chiefly on other fish and aquatic invertebrates, including worms and crustaceans. They're active fish with a high metabolic rate and as such wil…
Behaviour and compatibility
Rays are among the top predators in the ecosystems they populate in nature and are unsafe to keep with most other species. Conversely they also seem to prefer …
Sexual dimorphism
Rays are easy to sex. Males have a pair sexual appendages known as "claspers", one on each pelvic fin. These are used to inseminate the female when mating and …
Reproduction
Potamotrygon species utilise a breeding strategy known as matrotrophic viviparity. The young fish (often referred to as "pups") develop inside the mother and a…
Notes
P. leopoldi is aruably one of the most stunning freshwater species in the hobby and comes with a price tag to match. A fully grown one of these makes a jaw-dro…
References
References
No references