Seahorse or cuddlefish tank?

[Rizzle30]

Hello everyone, I'd like to get some votes on what i should have in my aqueon column build?

It's either going to be seahorses or dwarf cuddlefish.

What do you think I should get?

 

[ss30]

cuddlefish! do you mean Cuttlefish?

 

[ARCkeeper]

I work with common cuttlefish. The are very active and responsive. They learn to recognize you and beg just like little puppies. We even have one that likes to be stroked between her eyes!

 

[davidcalgary29]

I work with common cuttlefish. The are very active and responsive. They learn to recognize you and beg just like little puppies. We even have one that likes to be stroked between her eyes!

What's their average lifespan in aquaria? I can't imagine it would be more than two years.

 

[ARCkeeper]

What's their average lifespan in aquaria? I can't imagine it would be more than two years.

For S. officinalis we've been told to expect 12 - 18 months, but the females start laying eggs at about 8 months. We ended up with only females this time so we won't get fertile eggs, but we plan to try again for a breeding group. The eggs are pretty easy to hatch - you just need appropriate sized live food to start the young on, then teach them to accept frozen. We use a feed stick with a target on it.

 

[Rizzle30]

Where do you order your cuttlefish eggs?

 

[ARCkeeper]

Where do you order your cuttlefish eggs?

We started with juveniles that we we got from New England Aquarium. Even if they were still breeding, they only surplus to other AZA facilities. We are planning to try to get more through Reef Gen. They are wholesale only - no direct sales to the public. I really don't have any experience with any of the vendors selling eggs online. Eggs have come in to some of the LFS, but I was never in a position to do a dedicated tank at home. I have had to be satisfied with taking care of them at work.

 

[dyno]

We started with juveniles that we we got from New England Aquarium. Even if they were still breeding, they only surplus to other AZA facilities. We are planning to try to get more through Reef Gen. They are wholesale only - no direct sales to the public. I really don't have any experience with any of the vendors selling eggs online. Eggs have come in to some of the LFS, but I was never in a position to do a dedicated tank at home. I have had to be satisfied with taking care of them at work.

Had to be satisfied…..lol

Do you have any full tank shots?

 

[Rizzle30]

I'm thinking a bigger set up would be better for cuttlefish and so was leaning towards going for a seahorse tank although I'd love to do a cuttlefish tank as well.

Maybe that will be my third tank. Currently have a 45 gallon pentagon reef with fish, and the 15 gallon column build I'm currently setting up with no inhabitants yet.

I think I'm going to need to install an reverse osmosis unit before I attempt a 3rd tank. A few buckets of saltwater a week from my lfs isn't bad but any more than that and it takes pat of the joy out of this hobby for me, and I do enjoy it!!

 

[ARCkeeper]

Had to be satisfied…..lol

Do you have any full tank shots?

I don't have any, and unfortunately we lost our last cuttlefish recently, so the tank is empty right now. My curator is looking for more right now. The tank is an acrylic cylinder 4 feet across by 6 feet high. The cuttles were a big hit with visitors and we definitely want to continue with the species - hopefully we can successfully breed this time. Once we feel comfortable with their husbandry I hope to try flamboyant cuttlefish, which has an AZA breeding program. When the exhibit is up again I'll post some pics.