i am going to be negative here and say that it still looks like 2 males, here is my thinking...[/'quote]
Not negitive! Helpful!
female cuttles would not be attacked by the males, as the smaller one inked several times it obviously felt threatend.
I thought the chasing and the inking at the chasing towards the end was common in mating after the female had had enough.
the left cuttlefish is in definite strike pose, nothing like a mating pose.
Can you be more specific about which pose?
Cuttlefish mate face to face. their arms are intertwined and the male passes sperm directly into the females mantle, this process takes a minute or two each time. There was nothing of this in the clip to suggest mating.
I swear I read that they can also mate sideways head to head (like when the very first contact in the video), though I can't find the link right now, and that the process can be 'instant' or longer.
I had several males and females of officinalis living together for several months, it looks exactly like the males squaring off to each other, and obvious attempts at bites.
I know what you mean. Did the males line up head to tail, head to head or both?
Also, these don't live together. Any thoughts on displays and mating of animals that aren't 'friends' living together?
The female should lay eggs like little grapes straight after mating, then go back and mate again with the male. The male would normally be protecting her at this time. this could go on for several days.
Never heard that before! Are these feterlized eggs right after mating? I thought I read they keep 'em inside for a while before laying.
i'd expect a female cuttlefish to be at least 25% smaller than the male, not just a small amount.
Never heard this before.
and last but not least........... i dont think they are bandensis.
Any thoughts on alternative id's?
I hope that I am proven wrong as i obviously have not kept this species and wish you lots of luck
Thanks and me too!
I may be jumping the gun on the mating, but they followed exactly the pattern that was described to me by someone who breeds Sepia O (and who also identified them). Although the 'mating' was very fast. I will try again tonight.
I really wish there was some good lit on these guys!
And again, thanks for the input!