Cuttle Video

[Thales]

I thought you guys might be interested in this video of my cuttlefish.


http://stickycricket.com/150/aquariu...es/cuttle.html
PS
Its about 10 meg, so it may take a while to load.

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[Paradox009]

Where did you get him? Are they skittish and shy?

Ive kept many different species of octipus, but never a cutle.

[BlennyBabe]

Wow that was totally worth the wait. Very cool video. I have admired your frogfish video for a while, but this one is so much more intense. Those ghost shrimp didnt stand a chance. Is he always so photogenic? or is this just cause hes hungry?

[OctoMonkey]

very nice.. glad to see you acclimatised them so well, certainly in the minority

[Thales]

Thanks guys.
I know I am in the minority with bandensis, and feel very good that I have done this well so far.
I think the trick was that one died in the second day - so they couldn't really fight - and that I was around the first to do waterchanges for the the first couple of days with there was ink. Also, they both ate at the store, so I felt Ii actually had a chance.
Now she is always at the front of the tank, and if I forget to feed her in the morning, she begs!

It really too bad they aren't available more readily. I am thinking about writing a letter to the AZA, so zoos and research institutions could sell them to private individuals who they approve of. I would much rather have one that was produced in captivity than one that was wild caught.

[schmunkel98]

Nice video! Where did you get it from though? I have tried all sorts of places, even an importer from Tailand with no luck keeping them alive for more than a few days. I would go with Richard Stride, but the costs are just too much. I did get my hands on a bandensis once, but it just hid until it passed away the next day.

[Thales]

Walked into a LFS and there it was. They ate, looked good, so I took a chance.

[schmunkel98]

I'll have to try cuttles again when my octo passes on. It was very frustrating having them die aftr a few days though. Where are you in the US?

[Drew_P]

wow, incredible movie i love cuttle's! and that frogfish is absolutely awesome.

[Thales]

Thanks!

I am in the SF Bay Area. The LFS I got them at had them about 2 years ago as well, but they looked bad, so I passed on em. They say that they are on their list all the time, but they tried to order more and couldn't get them.
Mines not skittish at all, no darting, no butt burn. Me lucky.
They really should be bred for sale in the US. Any ideas on how to make that happen?

[schmunkel98]

NRCC has tons of them right in my own state of Texas, but the bums won't sell them to you unless you are in the education field. I thought about renting out a lab down there just to get some live ones and transport them back to Dallas. I remember someone on the ceph list talked about setting up a breeding colony at his house, but I'm not sure that ever worked out. Is your ceph full grown now? I'm trying to figure out how many I could house in my 135 gallon. I figured I'd get 3 or 4 at first due to the mortality rate.

[Thales]

Yeah, that is AZA rules, and I think they are silly. For animals easily bred, they should accredit individuals to keep them. Easy, they can make some money on it, and less animals taken from the wild.
I believe mine is full grown. Sad me.

[schmunkel98]

Yeah, Jimbo Louis somehow convinced them to give him some. Maybe he sweet talked them. I think it would be cool to have a bunch of smaller cuttles if they were active like yours. The whole reason most people stay away from bandensis is that they usually walk on the ground and don't come out much. I guess you just got one with a lot of personality. Maybe Colin will pop on and tell us which species he has had the best luck with.

[Thales]

Oh, the video is misleading. Most of the time I have an 'empty' tank. During feeding is when the action starts. I don't really mind it - must be the years of herp training.
I like the bandensis because of their size.

[schmunkel98]

Yeah, my octo is about the same way. At least he is easier to spot now that he is larger than my fist. What do you keep the crabs in until it is feeding time? I usually just dump the fiddlers in the tank because I don't have anywhere to keep them in the meantime. Speaking of food, how much does the little guy eat each day? Sorry about all the questions, but I haven't seen many people that have kept theirs alive for very long.

[Thales]

I keep the crabs in a little bucket. I collect 10 - 12 and that lasts like 6 days. I also feed snaks of ghost shrimp.
I usually feed her in the morning and at night. Eats lots. Lots.
I think I have had luck because I got a 'younger' one, it shipped well, the rock and the sand in the tank I set up for them was cured (it had all been in my sump for a long time), the water I used all came from my 200+ gallon system, I put a magnum 330 on the tank for filteration and circulation, and a remora skimmer (really helpful during inking). Also, when I do a water change, I use water from my reef tank, so its really aged well.
Love the questions!

[schmunkel98]

I have a spare 10 gallon that I could use as a crab house I guess. I like just plopping them in the tank though so the octo can eat when he wants. My system has been up and running for some time now and I use RO water from my home system to top off the water levels. I haven't done a water change in a long time. My levels are still awesome though, so I haven't bothered. Besides, I usually have to top off about 2 gallons every three days so the system is getting fresh water a lot.

[Matthewb]

Great video. A tad creepy. I keep thinking of Cthulu.

[psycho_clown]

that was great video. that's a great job.

[criccio]

OK, that "kitty porn" pic is just wrong...but funny

[Thales]

WOW.
Picked up another one yesterday. Less than half the size of the one in the video. Got it set up in is own tank and it is already eating like a pig. If all goes well, in a month or so, perhaps I can introduce them and luck out by having a male and female!

[tlouie]

Lefty,

which LFS did you get it at?

Originally posted by Lefty
WOW.
Picked up another one yesterday. Less than half the size of the one in the video. Got it set up in is own tank and it is already eating like a pig. If all goes well, in a month or so, perhaps I can introduce them and luck out by having a male and female!

[Thales]

Amazon Aquarium in Alameda.

[DrChristianTroy]

incredible movie ,it is really awesome

[Khai]

I really wish the link worked, it sounds like a cool video.