All fish / Trygonorhinidae

Eastern Fiddler Ray

Trygonorrhina fasciata

Also known as fiddler ray, eastern fiddler ray, banjo ray, banjo shark, southern fiddler ray, guitarfish

This is a flattened, guitar-shaped ray with a brownish-yellow back marked with dark-edged bluish-grey bands and lines around the eyes. It is a gentle bottom dweller from cool coastal waters and is mainly kept by public aquariums and a few specialists with very large tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

100 cm

Temperature

16 to 24 °C

pH

8 to 8.4

Smallest tank

4000 litres

Keep as

Singly or in pairs in very large systems

Diet

Carnivore: prawns, crabs, squid, worms and fish pieces

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Australia (southern Queensland to New South Wales)

Breeding

Females give birth to live young after a long pregnancy, usually a small litter of pups. Breeding has been achieved in public aquariums but is rarely possible in home systems.

Good to know

Adults reach around 1 m or more and need a huge tank with a wide sandy floor and cool water, so it is unsuitable for most home aquariums. It is endemic to Australia, so wildlife export rules limit its trade.