Yellow Stingray

The Yellow Stingray (Urobatis jamaicensis) is a compact, disc-shaped ray from the Caribbean known for its beautiful mottled pattern of yellows, browns, and greens that helps it blend into sandy bottoms and seagrass beds. In the aquarium, it glides gracefully along the substrate, burying itself in the sand with just its eyes and spiracles showing, which makes it one of the most fascinating bottom-dwellers to watch.

This is a tropical species that needs a warm, stable marine system with a wide footprint and plenty of open sand. Height is far less important than floor space – think long, shallow tanks that give the ray room to cruise and turn easily. A fine, soft sand substrate is absolutely required; rough gravel or sharp rock on the bottom can damage the ray’s underside and quickly lead to infections or injury.

Yellow Stingrays are generally peaceful but still predators. They will ignore larger, calm tankmates but will gladly eat small fish, shrimp, crabs, and other inverts they find while foraging along the sandbed. Ideal tankmates are peaceful, medium-to-large tropical fish that do not nip at the ray and are clearly too big to be viewed as food. Rockwork should be stable and arranged so the ray has wide open areas to swim and bury itself without squeezing through sharp gaps.

As with all stingrays, respect and caution are important. They have a venomous spine on the tail, so you should always know where the ray is when you’re working in the tank and move slowly and deliberately. Strong oxygenation, good surface agitation, and excellent mechanical and biological filtration are key, as rays are active and fairly heavy feeders.

Once settled, feeding is straightforward. 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 feeding, careful observation, and clean water will help your Yellow Stingray grow into a strong, healthy, and impressive adult.

• Common Name: Yellow Stingray (Caribbean Yellow Stingray)
• Scientific Name: Urobatis jamaicensis
• Origin: Caribbean and Western Atlantic
• Environment: Tropical marine – warm, stable water
• Care Level: Advanced
• Temperament: Generally Peaceful, Predatory
• Minimum Tank Size: 150–180+ 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 truly unique, the Caribbean Yellow Stingray is an outstanding choice. In the right system with a soft sandbed, open space, and thoughtful care, it becomes a graceful, long-lived centerpiece that completely changes the feel and motion of your display.