Boo common shore shrimp
Hooray crabs!
About a week ago we ordered a new batch of shore shrimp. Paul didn't have any all week (Ernesto?), but instead sent a free order of the tiniest fiddler crabs he had to last us until he could get some shrimp out after Labor Day.
The cuttles were very curious about the crabs as soon as we put them in, but it took them a couple hours before either one tried to strike. And even then they didn't have much luck: they would grab hold and fumble for a bit until they realized that theses things are hard and not soft like shore shrimp. Even worse when they struck one that was crawling on the divider screen: the cuttles are used to tagging a shrimp and pulling it into them but are mighty shocked when they "retract" and are pulled into their prey!
I was on the verge of panic last night that I wouldn't have anything they'd eat for a week when I looked in and saw one of them with his arms wrapped around the most awkwardly shaped bundle with little crab legs sticking out.
And then later that night we found the carcass of the largest of the crabs that had been put in: he looked intact, except he was completely empty with a little hole in one of the corners!
After this batch of shrimp is up we might switch to fiddlers. Each crab costs more than twice each shrimp, but I need to see how many they eat per day. Paul also sells them in smaller lots, so I need to talk to him to see if he can accomodate larger orders.
Also, an update on the marks. They've appeared on Chubbs a grand total of twice. They completely heal in about 2 or 3 weeks. Although I still haven't seen it happen, I believe they're inflicted by the other cuttlefish. Despite a lot of squaring-off, I haven't seen any new marks in over a month. Chubbs isn't quite as submissive to Checkers as he was before, and that might have something to do with it--he doesn't just let the other push him around as much.
What's funny is that for all the time they spend doing their male-male behavior, they still spend a lot of time sitting or swimming together peacefully.
Dan