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Common Name: Freshwater Stingray
Size: approximately 14 inches (35 cm)
pH: 6.5-8
Minimum Recommended Tank Size: 180 gal
Native Location: Maracaibo Basin - Paraguay, Brazil (Rio Tefé), Venezuela (Rio Palmar)
Temperature: 78-82º F
Diet:
Primarily carnivorous. Diet consists of benthic invertebrates such as crustaceans and worms, and a limited amount of vegetable matter.
Breeding:
Potamotrygon yepezi has not been known to breed in captivity. As in all species of freshwater stingray, fertilization is internal. During mating, the male will grab hold of the female's disc with his mouth and attempt to roll underneath her, where he will subsequently insert one of his claspers into her cloaca and deposit his sperm.
Freshwater stingrays are matrotrophically viviparous, giving birth to one to seven live young at a time after a gestation period of several months (dependent on species).The uterus is formed from the expansion of the oviduct. The embryos obtain nourishment from their yolk sacs early in their development. During the later stages of pregnancy, small, filamentous appendages called trophonemata develop within the uterus and penetrate the spiracle of the embryo (Nikolskii, 1961), supplying it with a nutrient-rich fluid called histotrophe that feeds it until it is born (Charvet-Almeida et al., 2005).
Gender Differences:
Males display elongated, rolled copulatory organs called claspers on the insides of their pelvic fins. Females lack claspers and are generally larger than the males.
Aggression:
Generally peaceful. Can be kept with other freshwater stingrays and larger, less boisterous fishes. Will consume any fishes that are small enough to fit in their mouths.
Notes:
This species can be identified by the indistinct black splotches and streaks present on a light brown base color. Occasionally, lighter spots are present around the edges of the disc. The markings on the sides of the tail are also unevenly distributed and blotchy. Often confused with Potamotrygon humerosa and Potamotrygon dumerillii. Body shape closely resembles that of Potamotrygon histrix.
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This post has been edited by Kate: 06 March 2006 - 11:28 AM
