Stingrays are increasingly common in aquariums and touch pools. Their welfare needs are poorly understood but important given the scale of captive stingray keeping.
Stingrays occupy an unusual welfare niche — they are commonly used in interactive touch pools, where they are continuously handled by visitors, and in large display aquariums, where conditions vary enormously. Research has found that cortisol levels in touch pool stingrays are significantly elevated compared to display rays, suggesting chronic stress. This is concerning given the scale of touch pool exhibits worldwide. Best practice for stingray welfare includes appropriate water chemistry, complex tank environments with substrate for resting and camouflage, appropriate diet diversity, and limits on human interaction time. The removal of the defensive barb (routine in many touch pool exhibits) requires pain management. Stingray welfare science is still nascent but growing.