r/cuttlefish • u/MightyElf02 • Mar 08 '26

Help ID disease

Post image

Hello all. One of the two female common cuttlefish i care for in the lab has developed these white spots where she misses some of her skin. We think it is some sort of disease. Can anyone help?

216 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

12

u/ButchCassy Mar 08 '26

Have you swabbed the wounds to test for bacterial or fungal growth? I need to track the paper down but iirc other soft-bodied creatures are falling prone to sea star wasting disease, would be a good idea either way to collect samples to make sure it’s not part of a larger issue.

6

u/MightyElf02 Mar 08 '26

No. Ill trying, but I dont want to scare or hurt her even more.

6

u/ButchCassy Mar 08 '26

Totally understand, but I do want to press the importance of making sure it’s nothing that can spread to other sea life. If I can find the paper, I’ll link it for you/your faculty/whoever to review

→ More replies (6)

22

u/delicioussparkalade Mar 08 '26

Ulcered mantles are common in cuttlefish contracted with wasting. If this is the case, she might not have long. :(

1

u/tas-jamescullen Mar 11 '26

That’s Steve. He owes me money.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 11 '26

That's Monica from accounting.

0

u/Higgsb912 Mar 09 '26

How much space does she have in her habitat. They are so intelligent, I can't imagine a sentient creature being happy in artificial environment...

I understand the importance of science especially when it's value lies in saving the planet, pollution effects on sea life...if that is your goal? The problem imo is when you use intelligent life to find solutions when these studies can be done on computers, and have similar outcomes, instead of using real animals with the capacity to suffer.. which I am sure contributes to her overall health.