{"product_id":"black-diamond-stingray-potamotrygon-leopoldi","title":"Black Diamond Stingray | Potamotrygon leopoldi","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Black Diamond Stingray is the crown jewel of freshwater rays - jet black scattered with bright white spots, gliding across the sand like living velvet. This is a breathtaking, high-end specimen strictly for serious keepers with enormous, pristine systems. It grows very large, reaching a disc width of around 40-50cm, and carries a venomous tail spine, so it demands respect, space and real expertise. Absolutely not a beginner's fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePotamotrygon leopoldi is endemic to the Rio Xingu in Brazil, a clear, warm, fast-flowing tributary of the Amazon with soft, slightly acidic water and sandy substrate. It cruises the sandy bottom in search of buried prey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA large, round-disced freshwater ray with a striking jet-black body dotted with clean white or pale spots, and a long, whip-like tail bearing one or more venomous barbs. The disc alone can reach around 40-50cm across in a mature adult, with the tail extending well beyond that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGenerally calm and non-aggressive toward tankmates too large to eat, but it is a predator that will consume small fish, and its venomous spine makes it potentially dangerous to handle. Best kept alone or with large, peaceful, open-water fish in a suitably enormous system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA carnivore that hunts invertebrates and small fish over the sand. Offer meaty foods such as prawn, mussel, whitebait, earthworms and quality carnivore pellets or gel. Young rays eat readily and grow fast, so plan for heavy, high-quality feeding and the filtration to match.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis ray needs a very large tank with a big footprint - floor space matters far more than height - a deep bed of soft sand to protect its disc, powerful filtration and immaculate, warm, soft, slightly acidic water with near-zero nitrate. It has no scales and is highly sensitive to poor water quality, medications and salt. Handle only with extreme care because of the venomous spine. This is a long-term, high-cost commitment for experienced keepers only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRays are livebearers that produce small litters of fully-formed young after internal fertilisation and a gestation of around three months. Breeding requires a very large system, a compatible mature pair and expert husbandry, and is generally the domain of advanced or specialist keepers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePotamotrygon leopoldi\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack Diamond Stingray\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouth America (Rio Xingu, Brazil)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 40-50cm disc width (tail much longer)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15-20 years or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful but predatory (venomous spine)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1000 litres (large footprint)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1500 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24-28°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0-7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2-12 dGH (soft)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery large, soft-water specialist systems (experts only)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eN\/A (kept over open sand)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLarge, peaceful, open-water fish in an enormous system, such as silver dollars, larger peaceful catfish, arowana (with caution) and big peaceful characins. Best appreciated as a solitary showpiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmall fish that will be eaten, aggressive or nippy species that harass the ray, bottom-dwellers that compete for the sand, and anything requiring hard or salty water. Never keep with fish likely to bite the disc or tail.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232885227811,"sku":null,"price":1610.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232885260579,"sku":"AA2664","price":1850.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232885293347,"sku":null,"price":2130.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-50cm)","offer_id":55351970988323,"sku":null,"price":2450.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Black_Diamond_Stingray_454ce0a2-bd86-44b9-ad38-88e67dd5142d.jpg?v=1781701792","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/black-diamond-stingray-potamotrygon-leopoldi","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}