Dwarf Cuttlefish
Sepia bandensis
The Dwarf Cuttlefish is the most aquarium-friendly cuttlefish species available, staying small enough for a 30-gallon while still delivering the mesmerizing color-shifting displays the group is famous for.
Keep it in a species-only tank or with very fast, non-threatening fish, as it will readily hunt shrimp, small crabs, and anything else it considers prey.
The trickiest part of keeping this species is getting it to accept frozen food: most wild-caught individuals start on live ghost shrimp or mysid shrimp and must be slowly weaned onto frozen offerings over several weeks.
Feed small portions two to three times daily since cuttlefish have fast metabolisms, and maintain pristine water quality because they are sensitive to nitrate buildup.
Field Notes
Related species
Box Crab
Calappa flammea
Spiny Reef Crab
Mithrax spinosissimus
Mimic Octopus
Thaumoctopus mimicus
Moon Snail
Neverita didyma
Olive Snail
Oliva sayana
Abalone
Haliotis rufescens
Arrow Crab
Stenorhynchus seticornis
Banded Coral Shrimp
Stenopus hispidus
Love this species? No tank needed.
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