Bluntnose stingray (Hypanus say) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Say's stingray, Dasyatis say (old name)
Family
Dasyatidae (whiptail stingrays)
Origin
Western Atlantic from Massachusetts to Venezuela; sandy or muddy bays, lagoons and estuaries, usually 1–10 m deep.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
100 cm
Temperature
20–24°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Care level
expert
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
no

Care

Size: It reaches about 100 cm and needs a very large, long system: it is for public-aquarium-sized systems, not home aquaria. The list suggests at least 560 US gallons (about 2,100 litres). Tank: floor area matters far more than height. Give a deep bed of fine, smooth sand (at least 5 cm) to bury in, little or no rockwork, guarded heaters and pump intakes, a tight lid, and strong filtration and aeration, as rays are messy feeders. Avoid copper-based treatments, which rays and their relatives tolerate poorly. Water: 20–24 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, salinity SG 1.023–1.026. These are general marine aquarium figures for a subtropical species, not species-specific values from the sources. Keep nitrate low and oxygen high. Behaviour: well suited to captive life according to the list. Mostly nocturnal, spending the day buried. Not aggressive, but defends itself if trodden on. Safety: the tail carries a venomous, serrated spine. A sting is very painful, though rarely dangerous to life. Never handle the ray by hand, net it with care, and get medical advice if stung. The spine can pierce leather and rubber footwear. Conservation: IUCN Near Threatened. Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypanussay). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Crustaceans, worms, bivalves, snails and small fish. Offer chopped clam, shrimp, squid and fish.

Breeding

Gives birth to 1–6 live young after about 11–12 months, including a long pause in embryo development.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe: eats crustaceans, molluscs, worms and small fish. Only for large systems with large fish.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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