Nutrition/Diet

The diet of the Flamboyant Cuttlefish is very basic due to its small size. They hunt primarily in the day and are vicious predators!! Don't be intimidated by their small structure; if they get a manageable size prey, its open season!

Metasepia pfefferi typically eat small fish and crustaceans due to their small size. They eat things like crabs, lobsters, or shrimp. Something that the Flamboyant Cuttlefish would not eat is the Red Rock Crab!

Metasepia pfefferi usaully hunts by stalking its prey and blending into the surroundings. As it approaches the prey, it slowly extends one of its internal tentacles and snatches up its victim into its vice grip beak. This beak crushes the shell of the prey and helps eat the food.

Here is a great video of how it feeds.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acKp5YBWwqw

After snagging its prey, it heads to the digestive system where it is broken down and distributed into the bloodstream. A unique thing about molluscs is that they have closed circulatory systems like the Horse. So after the food is absorbed, it is sent to the cells of the body via the veins, arteries, and capillaries.

The following website gives a good layout of the cuttlefish circulatory system. http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/48000/48007/48007_cuttle_syst.htm

Curious how reproduction occurs? Click here

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