Urobatis jamaicensis

(Cuvier, 1816)

Yellow Stingray

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: North Carolina to northern South America and also in the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Size: 14 inches - (35 cm) width and 26 inches - (67 cm) length

Natural Environment: Inhabits sandy areas near beaches and around coral reefs and usually found at depths between 3 to 85 feet (1 - 25 m) where it feeds on small fishes and exposed invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, and having a mottled yellowish brown flattened round shaped body.

Best maintained in large shark and stingrays type aquariums having deep fine-grained sand and few environmental obstructions. Will normally bury itself as protection from predators.

Requires wide-open swimming areas, peaceful, none fin-nipping tankmates, such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or angelfishes, and tankmates too large to be eaten.

Requires a meaty diet, i.e., preferably live grass shrimp, earthworms and/or crabs and/or chopped meaty foods such as fish flesh, shrimp, clams, scallops and earthworms and be fed once daily.

Taxonomy:

Class: Chondrichthyes

Subclass: Elasmobranchi

Order: Myliobatiformes

Family: Urotrygonidae

Genus: Urobatis

FYI: Will eat small tankmates.

Does well in aquariums with proper environmental conditions.

Very sensitive to copper, therefore aquarium water should be made with RO/DI processed water.

Venomous spine can inflict a painful wound.

Experience Level: Expert

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: No

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful and too large to be eaten

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

Temperature Range: 70 - 82°F (21 - 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5