Cuddle fish
Cuddle fish or cuttlefish belongs to the family of sea octopus and Nautiluses. T is a not a fish but a mollusk and is very intelligent species. It is popularly known as sea chameleon because of its ability to change colour. Cuddlefish has cuttlebone which acts as a buoyancy mechanism for the animal. The cuddle bone helps the fish to remain at the bottom of sea or swim freely at any depth. Cuddle fish is mostly found in English Channel, along the west coast of Africa to the southern tip of continent and also in the Mediterranean Sea. Cuddlefish has eight arms and two suckered tentacles that help to capture food. The average height of of cuddle fish is 36 cm long but it can grow up to 80cm long. The cuddle fish has a Zebra like pattern.
Cuddle fish food:
If you are planning to buy a cuttlefish as pet then keep in mind that they consume large amounts of food and required a large aquarium with highly oxygenated water and at ideal temperature to stay in.
Types of cuddle fish:
1. Flamboyant cuttlefish: The species name of flamboyant cuttlefish is Meta Sepia pfefferi. This fish can grow up to 8 cm in length. Flamboyant cuttlefish is found in inshore reef areas. The ideal temperature of flamboyant cuttle fish is 20-26C.
2. Pharaoh cuttlefish: The species name of pharaoh cuttlefish is Sepia Pharaonis. This fish can grow up to 45 cm in length. This type of cuddle fish is found throughout various environments ranging from inshore reef areas to open sea. The ideal temperature for this fish is 15-25C. This fish require large amount of meaty food to survive. Large aquarium and oxygenated water supply should be provided to this fish.
3. Broadclub cuttlefish: The species name of broadclub cuttlefish is Sepia latimanus. It is mostly found in various inshore reef areas. The ideal temperature of broadclub cuttlefish is 20-26C.
4. Needle Cuttlefish: The species name of this type of cuddle fish is Sepia aculeate. Needle cuttlefish is mostly found in indo pacific oceans. This fish can grow up to 30 cm long and the natural environment of this fish is various inshore reef areas. The ideal temperature for needle cuttlefish is 20-26 C.
5. Elongated cuttlefish: The species name of elongated cuttlefish is sepia misakiensis. This type of cuddle fish can grow up 10 cm in length and is found in various inshore reefs. The ideal temperature for elongated cuttlefish is 20-26C.
Cuttle fish should be kept in a big aquarium with proper oxygenated water. It is important for owner to maintain the quality of water in the aquarium of cuddle fish.