Got another clutch of S. Bandensis eggs

[Uncle Salty 05]

My LFS got another clutch of cuttlefish eggs in and I scooped them up right away.
I now have six hatchlings. Hopefully with what I learned from my mistakes on my first try all six will reach maturity.

 

[Kerrick]

Good luck! I too had bad luck with my first try. Still have one 5 month old female left but I am looking at getting some more eggs myself.

Don't forget to post pics!

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

Thanks.
My first try I got three eggs and only one of which reached about 3/4-1" in length and then just vanished. (I think my grandchildren may have been involved?)
I do have a decent video of it eating if my wife hasn't deleted it.
That or it jumped out of the tank and the cat got it, but I didn't think cuttlefish were jumpers.
The breeder net is getting sort of funky and when I clean it that is the best time to get picks while they are in a glass.
Should be in the next few days.

 

[Kerrick]

The coraline and gunk wont hurt the cuttles but it is unsightly. I didn't move mine much. I also didnt release them into the tank untill they were about and inch long.

What kinda other critters you have in there? Supposedly cleaner shrimp are dangerous for young cuttles. (its the other way around once they get bigger... I used to have two peppermints that could attest to this )

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

I just keep the net clean so I can see them better.
They are in a breeder net hanging on the side of my 20 gallon refugium.
Nothing in there but macro, pods and three nassarius snails.

 

[Kerrick]

Oh... double check all of your powerheads, return lines, overflows, and anything a cuttle could get sucked into. I had one of mine get sucked into the inlet of a powerhead that was a little smaller than the cuttle. I also had a sponge in the intake but there was just enough space for the cuttle to fit in there... I know you got a ways before you let them out in the tank.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

I know you are just trying to be helpful but I have already thought of all that.
Been reefing for 20 years.

 

[Kerrick]

My bad. I just thought it was unusual to not find a cuttle bone with a missing cuttle.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

Oh, no problem.
I think my grandkids were hitting the tank it was in and it jumped out.
The tank will be covered this time.
Once on the floor, our cat probably ate it.

 

[Bootes123]

Are cuttle fish hard to keep?

 

[asid61]

YES! I think there is a care sheet on tonmo.com about them. It also goes into breeding and young.
http://www.tonmo.com/cephcare/sepia-bandensis.php

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

Yes.
They are definitely for experienced reef keepers only.