Round stingrays frequently make their way into the aquarium trade and are well suited for captive life given their relatively small size and hardiness (if provided with a proper environment).
An aquarium with very little aquascaping (rocks, decorations, etc.),
a bed of fine substrate (fine sand as opposed to coarse sand and gravel), adequate filtration (given the messy feeding habits of rays), a secure lid or cover, much swimming area (long, wide tanks as opposed to tall, skinny ones), dim lighting, linear flow (aka.
constant not chaotic flow), a total flow rate of 10+ the tank's volume per hour moving in a fashion similar to that of a whirl pool (with no areas of low flow in the tank), and a water temperature of in between 12 °C (53.6 °F) and 22 °C (71.6 °F) is suitable for this ray.
Additionally, any protruding equipment in the aquarium like overflows should be surrounded by polyurethane foam barriers to prevent injury towards the ray and dissolved oxygen levels should be maintained at 7-8ppm (slightly more if ozone is used).
Stray electrical currents and concentrations of metal in the tank water should be avoided meaning that copper should not be used as medicine on this ray.
Feeding should be done with a feeding stick or long forceps seven times a week (preferably with food that does not contain thiaminase) to ensure the ray eats what is intended for it.
Small individuals should be fed non fibrous foods like frozen Mysid shrimp, live Brine shrimp and Blackworms, and finely chopped Shrimp.
Iodine should also be administered through water changes and/or Elasmobranch vitamins.
If it is not administered, this ray can develop Goitre.

Unhealthy individuals will lose weight and have a seemingly hollow abdomen, become lethargic, have faded markings, and they will take on a light shade of gray.
These individuals should not be purchased.
When first introduced to a tank, Round stingrays may fast for a period of time.
A good food source to get them eating is live food including Grass shrimp.
After living within aquarium confines for a period of time, they will become relatively tame.
Tankmates that should be avoided are Scorpionfish, Butterflyfish, large Angelfish (Pygoplites/Pomacanthus/Holacanthus), Filefish, Triggerfish, Pufferfish, Porcupinefish, certain Sharks (Ginglymostomatidae/Orectolobidae), large Crabs, Hermit crabs, and Sea anemones.
These can all irritate or lead to the demise of a Round stingray in an aquarium.
Round stingrays may also rest on top of/ knock over Corals which may sting the ray or get damaged so it is a poor choice for a Reef aquarium even though they do not consume corals.
As a juvenile, the ray is also vulnerable to being consumed by Frogfish and large Groupers.

The Round stingray is most often collected from California's southern coast and this is probably how the Round stingray has earned the name California stingray in the aquarium trade.
It also goes by several other names in the hobby including the Spotted stingray, Cortez ray, and Dwarf cortez ray.
When it is sold under the last two names, it is often misidentified with the very similar Cortez round stingray (Urobatis maculatus).
The two can be told apart because the Round stingray lacks the black spots the Cortez round stingray has on either side of its disk.

Round stingrays are also kept in some Public aquariums including the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California where their tail spines are clipped off periodically so they are safe to touch until they grow back.
Round stingrays frequently make their way into the aquarium trade and are well suited for captive life given their relatively small size and hardiness (if provided with a proper environment). An aquarium with very little aquascaping (rocks, decorations, etc.), a bed of fine substrate (fine sand as opposed to coarse sand and gravel), adequate filtration (given the messy feeding habits of rays), a secure lid or cover, much swimming area (long, wide tanks as opposed to tall, skinny ones), dim lighting, linear flow (aka. constant not chaotic flow), a total flow rate of 10+ the tank's volume per hour moving in a fashion similar to that of a whirl pool (with no areas of low flow in the tank), and a water temperature of in between 12 °C (53.6 °F) and 22 °C (71.6 °F) is suitable for this ray. Additionally, any protruding equipment in the aquarium like overflows should be surrounded by polyurethane foam barriers to prevent injury towards the ray and dissolved oxygen levels should be maintained at 7-8ppm (slightly more if ozone is used). Stray electrical currents and concentrations of metal in the tank water should be avoided meaning that copper should not be used as medicine on this ray. Feeding should be done with a feeding stick or long forceps seven times a week (preferably with food that does not contain thiaminase) to ensure the ray eats what is intended for it. Small individuals should be fed non fibrous foods like frozen Mysid shrimp, live Brine shrimp and Blackworms, and finely chopped Shrimp. Iodine should also be administered through water changes and/or Elasmobranch vitamins. If it is not administered, this ray can develop Goitre.
Unhealthy individuals will lose weight and have a seemingly hollow abdomen, become lethargic, have faded markings, and they will take on a light shade of gray. These individuals should not be purchased. When first introduced to a tank, Round stingrays may fast for a period of time. A good food source to get them eating is live food including Grass shrimp. After living within aquarium confines for a period of time, they will become relatively tame. Tankmates that should be avoided are Scorpionfish, Butterflyfish, large Angelfish (Pygoplites/Pomacanthus/Holacanthus), Filefish, Triggerfish, Pufferfish, Porcupinefish, certain Sharks (Ginglymostomatidae/Orectolobidae), large Crabs, Hermit crabs, and Sea anemones. These can all irritate or lead to the demise of a Round stingray in an aquarium. Round stingrays may also rest on top of/ knock over Corals which may sting the ray or get damaged so it is a poor choice for a Reef aquarium even though they do not consume corals. As a juvenile, the ray is also vulnerable to being consumed by Frogfish and large Groupers.
The Round stingray is most often collected from California's southern coast and this is probably how the Round stingray has earned the name California stingray in the aquarium trade. It also goes by several other names in the hobby including the Spotted stingray, Cortez ray, and Dwarf cortez ray. When it is sold under the last two names, it is often misidentified with the very similar Cortez round stingray (Urobatis maculatus). The two can be told apart because the Round stingray lacks the black spots the Cortez round stingray has on either side of its disk.
Round stingrays are also kept in some Public aquariums including the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California where their tail spines are clipped off periodically so they are safe to touch until they grow back.
Round stingray