AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – We’ve got an exciting opportunity for Local 4 viewers: SEA LIFE aquarium in Auburn Hills just acquired a new type of fish, and you get to name it!
The guitarfish is 5 feet long and will eventually get to 8 feet when fully grown in 4-5 more years. The aquarium acquired her from its Minnesota branch. Now she just needs a name.
Visitors who see the guitarfish, or shovelnose ray, don’t know what it is. I think it looks like a mix between a shark and a stingray.
“Everyone‘s been really excited,” lead aquarist Amanda Arndt said. “A lot of people ask questions and don‘t know 100% know what she is because, as you said, it’s a very unique shape for an animal.”
Since the fish has a unique, flattened front side, and a shark-like backside, many people think it looks like a guitar or a shovel.
The one at SEA LIFE aquarium was born about four years ago in Minnesota. She was transferred to Detroit to live in a larger tank.
“They start out maybe about a foot long, so she‘s grown a decent amount, but it‘ll still probably take her 4-5 more years before she’s close to full size,” Arndt said.
Workers at SEA LIFE are keeping her on a strict diet to make sure she can live close to her longest-possible life span, which is around 30 years. Shrimp is among her favorite foods.
As they get to know her, workers are trying to come up with a name that best suits her. So far they’ve thought of three possible options: Dolly Parton, Diggy Smalls, and Greta.
“We try to be a little bit creative,” Arndt said. “Dolly Parton, obviously, musician, guitar fish, that’s kind of where the connection came from. Diggy is like a shovel. They can often call it shovel nose guitar fish. That’s kind of where that one came from. And then Greta is another musician. So they’re all kind of somewhat related.”
SEA LIFE is hoping to get two more recommendations from viewers before a final vote. Please submit your name recommendations in the form below!
