Shark - RAYA

Intake: October 2, 2025

Found: Bodega Bay, California — beneath an overturned rowboat.

Condition on arrival: Good, considering. Unrepentant.

Temperament: Looks mean. Is mean, initially, and does not pretend otherwise. Softens considerably once he’s settled somewhere he approves of.

Light: Moderate. Avoid harsh direct sun; it does not improve his mood.

Attention: Low. He’d rather be respected than fussed over.

Good with children: Yes, above toddler height.

Good with other residents: No. Raya is a predator and he has never once been coy about it.

Requirements: A wall of his own, and no smaller fish on it. We do not hang him anywhere near Skelly’s trio, for reasons we would have thought were obvious.

Hook: “He is not misunderstood. He is exactly what he looks like.”

Raya came out from under a rowboat that had been upside down at Bodega Bay for years, and he came out with his opinion of us already fully formed. He looks mean and he backs it up. For about three weeks nobody here could tell him anything.

Then we found the right wall for him — good light, nothing competing, nobody walking past — and he became a different animal. He is loyal, he is watchful, and he is the resident visitors most often ask about. He simply required that we get it right first.

One thing we won’t soften: he eats other fish. Not “has been known to.” Does. He needs a wall to himself and no small residents anywhere near him. Get that part right and he is one of the best pieces in this building.

Product Details:

Dimensions: 17" x 6.5" x 1"

Weight: 1 lbs

Material: Authentic driftwood

Finish: Weathered hand-painted finish
Display: Wall hanging or shelf styling
Use: Indoor or covered patio
Care: Wipe clean with a dry cloth; avoid cleaning agents

Note: Each piece may vary slightly in color, texture, and finish due to its handmade nature.