A. Quarium

Those are more of a "maximum of" , NOT ideal, which yes, would be 0 in both cases

The shrimps should be fine, most reef fishes (probably) won't attack cleaners

Taufiq85, how big was your tank? I know all about the costs and dedication needed to raise cuttlefishes, as well as the whole issue on live foods. What I really need to know now is what skimmer I should use for my planned 55 gallon tank. Cheers, A. Quarium

Nice job! I've also just started reefing, could you pls PM me where you got the setup and for what price? Sorry if I'm bothering you, but thanks anyway.

Check out Marine Life at Clementi. The uncle there can custom a tank for you. iOS is (or should be) better than a HOB filter but not as good as a regular sump. Budget wise depends, but for 2 ft... I would pick IOS with a skimmer for my filtration system.

Wow, first time I ever heard of such a setup, all the best!

Should be fine for most, but not sure about the tang though

Why not try Marine Life's moderately large (around 6-8 by 2-3 feet by 1 foot) display tank? Corals, anemones, crabs, assorted tropical fishes.... All there, and Henry(the owner) is very friendly as well.

And yes, cuttlefish can be kept in a reef environment with the corals being non stinging ones. Here's the water conditions, and ideally the cuttlefish tank should be a separate setup from your main tank. Salinity: 1.025 Ammonia: 0.1 ppm Nitrite: 0.2 ppm Nitrate: 10 ppm or less Specific gravity: 1.021-1.024 Dissolved oxygen: 6-9 ppm Alkalinity: 7-11 dkh Calcium: 450 ppm Magnesium: 1200-1400 ppm Water should be RO/DI or tap water that has passed through an extremely efficient water purifier.

Sepia Bandensis otherwise known as the dwarf or stumpy spined cuttlefish has a natural distribution from Philippines to Indonesia, and can be sighted in Singapore waters. They live in temperatures of 25-28 degrees Celsius, and their trademark behavior is "walking" on their arms over the sea bed, so the sand has to be very fine. Temperatures must be lower at around 25 degrees celsius. @Biological filtration has to be extremely efficient for their high bioload, at least three times more than your average fish. A S. Bandensis tank has to be at least 30 gallons for one pair. A protein skimmer should be a must to maintain water clarity. Although S. Bandensis can be trained to eat frozen, you should give them live foods from time to time, and dip any frozen food in vitamins. Although fish is a possible source of food, the cuttlefish's main diet should be crustaceans such as rock crabs and shore shrimps. These cuttlefish grow up to 4-4.5 inches and are very interactive, capable of changing into a myriad of colours and raising up flaps to mimic seaweed. Breeding is possible, you will begin to see mating displays when they are 4 months old. Cuttlefish can lay up to 225 eggs, but only a small amount are viable. Food for newborns are mysid shrimps. They can be kept in the same conditions as a reef tank. Male aggression is common, and will often adapt a blue-black coloration with rippling stripes. S. Bandensis can often be found in the arms up posture to mimic seaweed. Although I am very knowledgeble on cephalopods, the real Bandensis experts are Richard Ross and every other Bandensis keeper in the world. FuEl, cuttlefishes are ALWAYS hungry, and two feedings per day with each getting two shrimp each is the ideal feeding arrangement. These cuttlefishes are very social and it is recommended to keep them in groups. Please visit the cephalopod page, Tonmo, and reefkeeping magazine's articles, as well as packedhead.net for more thorough articles on the husbandry and breeding of S. Bandensis by extremely advanced and experienced Dwarf Cuttlefish keepers

I have not started the tank yet, starting the tank end of year and cycling and maturing it for another 4 months after that before I add the cuttlefish pair. I know that biological filtration and skimming has to be at least three times more efficient than your regular fish. I will only be keeping a zoa or two with them and really need help with the live foods and the skimmer/filter type.

Yes, they do. First time only got one manta. Second time got two mantas. Third time got cuttlefishes (big ones). Fourth time got a GPO (Giant Pacific Octopus). Most recent visit got the dolphins. Maybe they have more animals now, didn't visit after my annual pass expired, otherwise too expensive/crowded for me unless weekday.

Even so, you need to remove heavy metals like copper etc. And I remember somewhere that there is another compound added to tap water that is not affected by anti chlorine. Best to use ro/di water or use a very efficient water filter to filter tap water. This ensures that your water quality will be fine. Don't used boiled water, no oxygen left that way.

Thanks for the advice, I haven't gotten the cuttlefishes yet, and intend to keep them (one pair) in a 40 gallon tank with a moderate amount of live rocks. I will purchase the cuttlefish pair from Marine Life. Any other advice, like where to get live feeders, filter type, skimmer type etc? If you don't have anything else then it's ok. PM or post here all accepted

Nope, this is modified with stuff I found out on TONMO

Well, I found this out from TONMOI wrote this myself: Sepia Bandensis otherwise known as the dwarf or stumpy spined cuttlefish has a natural distribution from Philippines to Indonesia, and can be sighted in Singapore waters. They live in temperatures of 25-28 degrees Celsius, and their trademark behavior is walking on their tentacles over the sea bed, so the sand has to be very fine. Biological filtration has to be extremely efficient for their high bioload, at least three times more than your average fish. A S. Bandensis tank has to be at least 30 gallons for one pair. A protein skimmer should be a must to maintain water clarity. Although S. Bandensis can be trained to eat frozen, you should give them live foods from time to time, and dip any frozen food in vitamins. These cuttlefish grow up to 4-4.5 inches and are very interactive, capable of changing into a myriad of colours and raising up flaps to mimic seaweed. Breeding is possible, you will begin to see mating displays when.they are 4 months old. Cuttlefish can lay up to 225 eggs, but only a small amount are viable. Food for newborns are mysid shrimps. Although I am very knowledgeble on cephalopods, the real Bandensis experts are Richard Ross and Daniel Pon of TONMO.

No? Well, at least I can use TONMO

Hey all, I've kept Fw and a small nano already, and I'm thinking of getting a cuttlefish. I've already done lots of research and am going to purchase a Sepia Bandensis pair at the end of year from ML. Any bros/sis got any tips to share like skimmer type, filter, sources of live or frozen foods etc. Thanks.

I am considering a cuttlefish tank, as I consider myself to be an expert on cuttlefish, but can you tell me the specifics of your tank(e.g. filter type, height, your amt. of live rock, salinity e.tc.) stackdeck? Posting it here or PMing me either way is fine. p.s. Sepia Bandensis otherwise known as the dwarf or stumpy spined cuttlefish has a natural distribution from Philippines to Indonesia, and can be sighted in Singapore waters. They live in temperatures of 25-28 degrees Celsius, and their trademark behavior is walking on their tentacles over the sea bed, so the sand has to be very fine. Biological filtration has to be extremely efficient for their high bioload, at least three times more than your average fish. A S. Bandensis tank has to be at least 30 gallons for one pair. A protein skimmer should be a must to maintain water clarity. Although S. Bandensis can be trained to eat frozen, you should give them live foods from time to time, and dip any frozen food in vitamins. These cuttlefish grow up to 4-4.5 inches and are very interactive, capable of changing into a myriad of colours and raising up flaps to mimic seaweed. Although I am very knowledgeble on cephalopods, the real Bandensis experts are Richard Ross and Daniel Pon of TONMO.

Tonmo is the best resource for cephalopod keeping and info, and gouldian, I totally agree. The documentary is AWESOME!!!

Actually you can train them to eat frozen, and you would still have to start off with live foods until your cuttlefish is completely weaned onto frozen, but a live treat once in a while wouldn't hurt. You need a really big skimmer rated three times your tank size (e.g. 150gal skimmer for 50 gal cuttlefish tank) because of their high bioloads. Biological filter media is also needed, and a carbon filter in case of inking incidents. Saw two pairs at ML yesterday, $38 per pair, $300 complete setup with skimmer and all. Cheers, Squidboy (as my friends call me)

They also have a vampire squid and dwarf cuttlefish

No skimmer? But a skimmer is vital for cuttlefish, maybe water quality issues is why your cuttlefish only lasted for 9 months (they are supposed to live for a year) or maybe your cuttlefish was already 3 mths old when you got it. Still, I'm not sure whether weekly water changes work that well. Still, if your cuttlefish survived for 9 mth then I suppose.......

Fishing where?

It's either a S. Aculeate or a Bandensis