Cortez stingray

The Cortez Stingray (Urobatis maculatus) is a beautiful, tropical round ray from the Eastern Pacific, known for its smooth, disc-shaped body and attractive mottled pattern. Watching one cruise along the sandbed, gently flapping its “wings” and burying itself with just the eyes showing, is the kind of movement that instantly makes a tank feel alive.

This is a tropical species, not temperate, so it belongs in a warm saltwater system with a large footprint and plenty of open sand. Height is less important than floor space – think long, wide tanks rather than tall ones. A fine sand substrate is absolutely required; rough gravel or sharp rock on the bottom can damage the ray’s soft underside and quickly lead to infections or injury.

Cortez Stingrays are generally peaceful but still predators. They’ll ignore larger, calm tankmates but will happily snack on small fish, crustaceans, and other inverts they can find along the bottom. Ideal tankmates are peaceful, medium-to-large tropical fish that won’t nip at the ray and are clearly too big to be seen as food. Make sure rockwork is stable and positioned so the ray has wide, open areas to swim and bury itself.

As with all stingrays, respect is important. They carry a venomous spine on the tail, so you should always know where the ray is when working in the tank and move slowly and calmly. Good oxygenation, strong but not blasting flow, and excellent mechanical and biological filtration are key – rays are active and fairly heavy feeders.

Feeding is straightforward once the ray settles in. Offer a varied, meaty diet of marine-based foods such as shrimp, pieces of fish, squid, and clam. Many keepers gently place food on the sand in front of the ray or use feeding tongs so it can easily locate and consume each piece. Consistent, appropriate feeding and clean water will help your Cortez Stingray grow into a strong, impressive adult.

• Common Name: Cortez Stingray (Cortez Round Stingray)
• Scientific Name: Urobatis maculatus
• Environment: Tropical marine – warm water
• Care Level: Advanced
• Temperament: Generally Peaceful, Predatory
• Minimum Tank Size: 180+ gallons with a wide footprint (larger recommended for adults)
• Substrate: Fine sand only – no sharp gravel
• Reef Compatibility: Not reef-safe with small inverts; will eat crustaceans and small fish
• Diet: Carnivore – meaty marine foods placed on the sand
• Special Notes: Venomous tail spine; perform tank maintenance with caution

If you’re set up for larger tropical bottom-dwellers and want something that truly changes how your tank looks and moves, the Cortez Stingray is a fantastic choice. In the right system with a soft sandbed, open space, and thoughtful care, it becomes a graceful, long-lived centerpiece you’ll never get tired of watching.