Dwarf Cuttlefish

Sepia bandensis

Identification	Small, stocky cuttlefish with mottled brown-and-white camouflage and the ability to flash colors and raised skin flaps. Also called the Stumpy-Spined or Dwarf Cuttlefish.
Origin	Indo-Pacific — coastal reefs and rubble of the Western Pacific
Maximum Length	3–4 inches (mantle)
Minimum Tank Size	30 gallons (dedicated species tank)
Reef Compatibility	Not a reef animal — a predator; keep in a species tank

Behavior

The Dwarf Cuttlefish is the most commonly kept cuttlefish in the aquarium hobby, prized for its small size, expressive color-changing displays, and remarkable intelligence. It hovers and hunts using undulating fins and a pair of long feeding tentacles, and it interacts with its keeper, tracking movement with its w-shaped pupils. It is captive-bred more often than most cephalopods, which makes it the best cuttlefish choice for a dedicated keeper — though it is still a short-lived, specialized animal.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore. Feeds on shrimp and small fish, ambushing prey with its feeding tentacles. In captivity it prefers live foods — live saltwater shrimp (mysis, ghost, or amano) and small fish — though captive-bred individuals can sometimes be trained onto frozen. Feed daily.

Cautions

A short-lived species (typically under a year to about 18 months) and a specialized animal — keep in a dedicated species tank with pristine, stable water. Provide live or well-established frozen foods and a soft sand bed. Like all cephalopods it is an escape artist, so a fully sealed lid is essential. Keep alone or only with others of its kind in a large enough tank. Not reef safe.