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California Stingray

Round Stingray

Family: UrolophidaeUrobatis halleriPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The California Stingray or Round Stingray, have two plates in their mouth which are used for crushing the shells of crabs, prawns, and molluscs. This ray would take squid and shrimp from our hands so you could feel the plates in the mouth!

   For the first few feedings we impale food on a long pole and placed it very near the mouth to entice the ray to eat. Once they get the idea they readily eat anything meaty like squid, shrimp, and cut up fish.

   The disk of theCalifornia Stingray or Round Stingray is nearly circular. The back of this species is brown, often mottled or spotted, and the underside it is white to orange.

   The California Stingray or Round Stingray is one of six rays found in California waters which have a stinger on the tail. It can be distinguished from the others since it is the only one with a true tail fin. The others have either a whip-like tail or very short tail with no fin membrane.

For more Information on keeping marine fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

Geographic Distribution Urobatis halleri Data provided by FishBase.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Actiniform Class: Elasmobranchii Order: Rajiformes Family: Urolophidae

Maintenance difficulty:    TheCalifornia Stingray or Round Stingray is hardy and easy to keep. They become quite tame in captivity.

Maintenance:    Feed all kinds of large meaty foods like small pieces of fish, squid, shrimp, crabs, prawns, molluscs, and live goldfish. Best to feed small amounts several times a day.

Habitat: Natural geographic location:    This species, the California Stingray or Round Stingray, occurs from Panama to Humboldt Bay, California, including the Gulf of California. California Stingrays or Round Stingrays are most abundant off southern California and northern Baja California at depths up to 70 feet. They like shallow, sandy areas.

Foods:    In the wild they obtain much of their food by burrowing in the substrate. Their diet includes worms, crabs, snails, clams and small fishes.

Social Behaviors:    Gets along with its own kind and other fish. Watch smaller fish as they could become lunch although they usually leave other fish alone unless they are acting sick or distressed.

Sex: Sexual differences:    Unknown.

Light: Recommended light levels:    No special requirements.

Breeding/Reproduction:    Mating occurs from May to June and in December. There are one to six pups, depending upon the size of the female. It takes 3 months for the round stingray young to develop and they are approximately 3 inches wide at birth. Sexual maturity is reached in 2.6 to 3 years.

Temperature:    Best kept between 54 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (12 to 22 degrees C).

Length/Diameter of fish:    California Stingray or Round Stingray adults can grow to 22 cm (9 inches) not including the tail. At 20 cm they weight about 1.5 lbs.

Minimum Tank Length/Size:    A minimum 75 gallon aquarium is recommended.

Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong    No special requirements.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom    Usually found on the bottom, sifting through the sand. Will sometimes bury itself in the sand.

Availability:    This fish is available from time to time.

• California Stingray : $76.99

California Stingray 4 10 Length Offered By: PetCo Price: $76.99

Lastest Comments on California Stingray View all 17 comments on California Stingray Add Your Comment

James George - 2011-04-05 I have a question. When I get back from Iraq I would love to have a stingray in my 100 gallon! But, I would like to know how big they get, how fast they grow, and how big of a tank do i need? I see that it says a 75 gall is fine but I have read and people say 75 and some say a 300 gall! I just want some good insight from people that have had these for a good bit! Please hit me back any time! Thankyou! Click For Replies (3) Charlie Roche - 2011-04-05 Attached is an article for you on the California Stingray which should give you the information you are asking about. It's hard to go to large on a fish tank (or a bird cage) so go for it. Have a safe flight back from Iraq and welcome home. James George - 2011-08-10 Just want to thank everyone for the info..I look very much forward to getting my first stingray when I,m home..Thank you again! semper fidelis - 2011-10-05 I have a california,cortez,round stingray in a 125g 6x18 x22x039;. They are hardy, eat and swim constantly also if you choose to sleep anywhere near the tank it will wake you up like a baby needing to be feed.They do though require absolute close to perfact tank water quality.Your aquarium system should be set up and cycled thouroly for 3-6monts.YOU have to test the water oftenly then adust to the out put of fish waste that the stingray will produce.I have a california ray that was a newborn and was fortunate to be raised with the highest regards to the welfare of this stingray.This fish continues to challange me and to help keep me in this hobby through the tough times .Much respect always remember what you want and go for it ! Reply

Moni - 2011-07-30 I have had my stingray for about a week and he has started doing backflips all the time almost constantly unless it's feeding time or someone walks up to the tank. I've never seen him do that even when he was at the store for 3 weeks while I got my tank set up... Just wondering if anyone knows if it's a bad thing or not! Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-07-30 There are back flips and back flips. U-Tube there is a video of california stingray just haning out and he does go up side down and then around. I don't know if this is what you mean by a back flip. Here's the link- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1PtZRGBDG8 Reply

adam - 2010-06-09 I have a stingray and it's been fine and now it has stringing stuff coming off it. I didn't know if it was growing or just dying? Thanks for any info I can get. Click For Replies (2) motasm - 2011-01-31 Go to a pet DR. he may help. Jed - 2011-07-12 Hi Andrew, I hope this helps. I think the reason why he's eating your newly added chromis is because any new small fish you're putting in makes him think it's food. Or if not, he could be territorial. I think if the fish were there before the ray, it won't eat them. Reply

Johnny Kimbrough - 2008-05-19 I have a California sting ray. This is my second one and I have such a hard time keeping them alive. I was curious about feeding regiments i.e.(once a day or every other day) and temperature of others aquariums who own this species of sting ray. Also what does it mean when the edges of their fins are slightly folded up similar to a contact lens and his top edges are dark brown. If you have any answers to my questions or have knowledge of these symptoms please respond back. Thank you! Click For Replies (3) joe - 2010-02-22 When I go fishing in my canal, the rays I see have their fins are slightly folded up, so I think that's normal. arianna - 2010-07-21 How did you catch them did you have to get sting before you caught them! deanna - 2011-03-09 The "curled up like a contact lense" look is not normal. This is sometimes referred to as "the death curl" because typically a ray that looks like that is very close to death. Reply

motasm - 2011-01-31 Hi I want to know about the tank size well you said 75 gallons minimum but us or uk gallons? Reply

Andrew - 2010-06-17 I have a california stingray and my tank was going well with the stingray, one clownfish, two gobies and one royal gramma. I then went out and bought three green chromis. The stingray then killed two of them so I bought more and started feeding him more (two 1'' long krill or pieces of clam or silversides once a day) though he then killed the 2 new ones I bought. The chromis are the same size of the clownfish and he hasn't bothered my larger chromis or my clownfish. Should I feed him even more? Click For Replies (1) motasm - 2011-01-31 Sorry I meant it won't need more so you won't over feed it so separate them when possible. Reply

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