Common name: Cuttlefish
General information
The Pharaoh Cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis, is a large and impressive cephalopod that is occasionally available in the marine aquarium trade. Known for its intelligence and complex behaviors, it is a fascinating addition to a suitable aquarium. This species is capable of rapid color changes and can display a variety of patterns, which it uses for communication and camouflage.
Details
- Recommended minimum tank volume
- 500 liter (130 gallons)
- Salinity
- S.G. 1.023 to 1.025
- Temperature
- 24 to 28 °C (75 to 82 °F)
- Acidity
- pH 8.1 to 8.4
- Average size
- 50 cm (1′8″)
- Care level
- Moderate to difficult Sensitive to water quality.
- Diet
- Carnivore Feeds on live shrimp, fish.
- Reefsafe
- No May hunt small tank mates.
- Aggression
- Semi aggresive Can be territorial.
- Captive bred
- No
Taxonomy
- KingdomAnimalsAnimalia
- PhylumMollusksMollusca
- ClassCephalopodsCephalopoda
- OrderCuttlefishSepiida
- FamilyCuttlefishSepiidae
- GenusCuttlefishSepia
- SpeciesCuttlefishSepia pharaonis Ehrenberg, 1831
- SynonymsAscarosepion singhalensis foxi Robson, 1927Crumenasepia hulliana Iredale, 1926Crumenasepia ursulae Cotton, 1929Sepia formosana Berry, 1912Sepia framea Ortmann, 1891Sepia hulliana Iredale, 1926Sepia koettlitzi Hoyle & Standen, 1901Sepia ramani Neethiselvan, 2001Sepia rouxi d'Orbigny, 1841Sepia singalensis Goodrich, 1896Sepia tigris Sasaki, 1929Sepia torosa Ortmann, 1888Sepia ursulae Cotton, 1929Sepia venusta Pfeffer, 1884Sepia venustoides Hoyle, 1909
Care
Cuttlefish require specialized care and a species-specific tank setup. They need a spacious tank with plenty of room to swim and a sandy substrate to mimic their natural environment. The water quality must be pristine, with stable parameters, and the tank should be equipped with efficient filtration. Cuttlefish are carnivorous and need a diet of live or frozen shrimp, fish, and mollusks.
Reproduction
In captivity, breeding Pharaoh Cuttlefish can be challenging. They are semelparous, meaning they die after a single reproductive event. Males display elaborate courtship behaviors to attract females. After mating, females lay clusters of eggs, which hatch into miniature versions of the adults.
Habitat
The Pharaoh Cuttlefish is found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Japan and Australia. They inhabit coral reefs and sandy bottoms, often near seagrass beds, at depths ranging from shallow waters to about 100 meters.
Geographical distribution includes areas such as the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and the western Pacific Ocean.