Albino Pearl Hybrid Stingray

fish description – Albino Pearl Hybrid Stingray Care Guide ($Potamotrygon\ sp.$ ‘Albino Pearl’ Hybrid)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Potamotrygon\ sp.$ (‘Albino Pearl’ Hybrid)
Common Name	Albino Pearl Ray, Albino Hybrid Stingray, White Spotted Ray
Origin	South America (Selectively Bred Hybrid)
Adult Size	18–20 inches (45–50 cm) disc width
Temperament	Peaceful toward large fish, territorial, bottom-dwelling carnivore
Lifespan	10–20+ years
Care Level	Expert (due to size, sensitivity, high cost, and venomous spine)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A large, flat, disc-shaped ray with a long, whip-like tail and a venomous spine. The Albino trait gives it a uniform pale white or pinkish body with striking red eyes. The ‘Pearl’ hybrid genetics often result in scattered dark spot patterns visible beneath the albino surface.
• Coloration: Uniform white/pink with red eyes. Males develop a sharp, recurved pectoral spine (clasper) during breeding. Females are generally larger and have a rounder body profile than males.¹

   

• Fins: Broad, flat pectoral fins used for gliding. The tail is armed with a venomous barb (spine).
• Behavior: Highly intelligent, interactive, and primarily nocturnal. Spends most of its time buried in or gliding over soft sand while foraging for food using electroreception.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 300 gallons (1135 liters) is the absolute minimum for a single adult. The tank must have a vast horizontal footprint (e.g., 8 feet long x 3 feet wide) to allow for swimming and turning.
• Schooling: Can be kept singly or in groups (5+) in exceptionally large custom systems.
• Temperature: Tropical range: $75^\circ$–$82^\circ\text{F}\ (24^\circ$–$28^\circ\mathrm{C})$.
• pH Level: Soft, neutral to slightly acidic water: 6.5 to 7.5. They are extremely sensitive to nitrates. Massive biological filtration and large weekly water changes (30–50%) are critical due to their high bioload.
• Aquascape: Requires a deep bed of fine, soft sand substrate to allow for burrowing and to protect their delicate underside. Decorate with smooth driftwood; avoid all sharp objects. The tank must be easily accessible for cleaning but secured against jumping. Heaters should be guarded or placed in a sump.²

   

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Albino Pearl Hybrid Stingray is a dedicated carnivore.

• Staple Diet: Should consist of high-quality meaty, sinking pellets formulated for rays, combined with frozen/fresh foods.
• Supplementation: Requires a varied diet of earthworms, shrimp, mussels, squid, and fish fillets. Avoid all mammalian meats (e.g., beef heart) due to indigestible fats.
• Schedule: Feed 1–2 times daily. Train them to eat non-live food to minimize disease risk.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Venomous spine requires extreme caution. Not recommended for tanks under 300 gallons. Will eat any small fish. Highly sensitive to water quality.³

   

• Good Tank Mates: Peaceful, large, robust fish that occupy the upper water column. Examples include Large Arowanas, Bichirs, Large Catfish (e.g., Hoplo, Raphael), and large Cichlids (e.g., Severums, Jaguars), provided the tank is large enough for everyone to maintain separate niches.