Beautiful - great work creating an environment where they've been comfortable to breed. Thanks for sharing this video with us. Speaking for the female cuttlefish, I think music that is a little more romantic would be nice!
I had hoped to see Flamboyants while diving at Bunaken National Park in Sulawesi but sadly did not. My understanding was that more are seen on the other side of the island, at Lembeh Straits.
Great video, and fascinating research, Rich. Three Cheers!
really really neat. I have a 65 gallon saltwater tank with a some friendly fish like clowns a pair of blue mandarins a dottyback and a seahorse. Also some small invertebrates. I was wondering where to get a pair of these cuttlefish (if possible at all), and if im able to get a pair would, it be compatible in a community of mellow fish?I have the time over the next few months as its the summer(im a teacher),so caring for them wouldn't be too much of a problem.Please let me know and awesome video.
Even experienced cephalopod keepers with mature tanks should think long and hard before trying to obtain this species. Their needs are resource intensive, expensive, and not yet fully understood, and it is unknown if wild populations can handle focused collection, so at this point in our understanding of these animals getting one just because ’its cool’ seems to be a disservice to these incredible creatures.
Cuttlefish should be in species only tanks. This is partly because they can easily kill fishes that are alot bigger than themself. Cuttlefishes alone require overfiltration, so having additional fishes isn't a good idea unless you have very good filtration/skimmer.
Since the wild population status of the flamboyant cuttlefish isn't well known you'd better check out Sepia bandensis or Sepia officinalis (if you have a big tank).
One of the few poisonous cuttlefish and dies after mating and laying eggs, they can't really swim because their cuttle bone is too small to make them float, i saw a documentary about them not too long ago on the discovery channel.
I think the idea that they can't swim is not really true, though the cuttle bone is small. They swim just fine in tanks (even hover for extended periods), and I followed one through the water column for at least 25 meters in Lembah. I think the prefer to hang on the substrate because its safer and uses less energy. I also think the idea that they lay eggs and die is a holdover from most octopuses, but haven't seen these lay in captivity yet. Most other cuttles can lay multiple times.
These are beautiful! I hope to keep them one day (of course only after more is known about how to keep them safely in captivity.)
AcquiesceJZ 1 year ago
Beautiful - great work creating an environment where they've been comfortable to breed. Thanks for sharing this video with us. Speaking for the female cuttlefish, I think music that is a little more romantic would be nice!
balsora 1 year ago
Comment removed
balsora 1 year ago
I had hoped to see Flamboyants while diving at Bunaken National Park in Sulawesi but sadly did not. My understanding was that more are seen on the other side of the island, at Lembeh Straits.
Great video, and fascinating research, Rich. Three Cheers!
screebo21 1 year ago
@screebo21
Yep - all over the place in Lembeh, but none to my knowledge in Bunaken. :D
Thanks for the research!
cephhead 1 year ago
Very cool. They resemble squid, just whole lot fancier!
SF2Cal 1 year ago
really really neat. I have a 65 gallon saltwater tank with a some friendly fish like clowns a pair of blue mandarins a dottyback and a seahorse. Also some small invertebrates. I was wondering where to get a pair of these cuttlefish (if possible at all), and if im able to get a pair would, it be compatible in a community of mellow fish?I have the time over the next few months as its the summer(im a teacher),so caring for them wouldn't be too much of a problem.Please let me know and awesome video.
pizcobabe 1 year ago
Thanks!
Even experienced cephalopod keepers with mature tanks should think long and hard before trying to obtain this species. Their needs are resource intensive, expensive, and not yet fully understood, and it is unknown if wild populations can handle focused collection, so at this point in our understanding of these animals getting one just because ’its cool’ seems to be a disservice to these incredible creatures.
Check out TONMO for more information.
cephhead 1 year ago
@pizcobabe A late reply but anyway...
Cuttlefish should be in species only tanks. This is partly because they can easily kill fishes that are alot bigger than themself. Cuttlefishes alone require overfiltration, so having additional fishes isn't a good idea unless you have very good filtration/skimmer.
Since the wild population status of the flamboyant cuttlefish isn't well known you'd better check out Sepia bandensis or Sepia officinalis (if you have a big tank).
pluppmupp 9 months ago
One of the few poisonous cuttlefish and dies after mating and laying eggs, they can't really swim because their cuttle bone is too small to make them float, i saw a documentary about them not too long ago on the discovery channel.
SpecialElements 1 year ago
I think the idea that they can't swim is not really true, though the cuttle bone is small. They swim just fine in tanks (even hover for extended periods), and I followed one through the water column for at least 25 meters in Lembah. I think the prefer to hang on the substrate because its safer and uses less energy. I also think the idea that they lay eggs and die is a holdover from most octopuses, but haven't seen these lay in captivity yet. Most other cuttles can lay multiple times.
cephhead 1 year ago