S. bandensis at the California Academy of Sciences

[Thales]

Looks like you've raised quite a few, what is the survival rate to adulthood?

High percentage, as long as they are fed enough. Up until this round, the problem has been getting viable eggs.

 

[Thales]

Thales, it just occured to me that this is yet another example of a good year for cephs - are these eggs from wild caught or a second generation?

These eggs are from adults I raised from wild eggs.

 

[Thales]

Lots o' hatchlings.

 

[corpusse]

Lots o' hatchlings.

Insanity.

If a lot of these guys do make it into the pet trade there should be no more need for wild caught eggs.

I hope this time next year I am hatching one tenth that many, maybe one one hundredth at the rate yours are going.

 

[DWhatley]

It looks like you still have lots of eggs with live critters showing!

 

[Thales]

It may be possible to supply some to schools. If interested, please contact me with some sort of official request from some sort of official email. Not promising yet, but I can try.

[email protected]

 

[lilalancarey]

very interesting thread, good luck thales hope one day the cuttles can hit the market, i sent you a pm on manhattan reefs before i read this, the thread pretty much answered my question. i wish i can work with cuttles like you do would make me love going to work =]

 

[Thales]

There are only a few vendors I will be allowed to get cuttles to, and they want them eating prepared foods. In the next couple of month I plan to send some out and will let you know when I do.

The growth study grinds on. I can't tell you how fun it is to dry off cuttles and weigh them once a week.

The egg laying slowed and then stopped about a month ago. The eggs were being laid randomly, not being attached well, and lots of 'empty eggs'.

The little male on show grew up and began to be a pain, the two of the constantly harassing 'Thor' the large male, so I moved the used to be little guy off show. We also lost one of the females for unknown reasons.

I wrote them up for the 2010 Drum and Croaker, which is available here for download for anyone interested: http://www.colszoo.org/internal/drumcroaker.htm

Here is a pic of cuttles looking like rocks.

 

[Thales]

A video of the cuttles eating crabs

 

[DWhatley]

I just KNOW you hate this job

What kind of mushrooms/softies are in the tank and do you know where they come from (ocean)?

 

[Thales]

Yeah, my job sucks!

Those aren't mushrooms, they are Acanthophyllia deshayesiana from Indo. There are also large Sarcophytons.

 

[DWhatley]

It is the toadstool that I want (Sarcophyton). Now where to find some.

 

[hobogato]

great video, thanks for sharing! i cant wait til my little ones are at that stage!

 

[Thales]

Neat day -

The remaining male and female on show have been retired. The male, Thor, is huge. I'll get some measurements.

9 juvies have replaced the big ones - 1/2 are Thor's kids and 1/2 are wild eggs.

Super fun!

 

[DWhatley]

... uh aren't you forgetting something Rich? WHERE are the photos of the new one? A photo of Thor would be nice along with the measurements too.