Hatching Flamboyant Cuttlefish, one of the famous critters in Lembeh, greeted eighteenth-time repeat guest Nicole this week! She says she keeps coming back to Lembeh time and again because there is always something new to see! The tiny, squirmy, Flamboyant Cuttlefish were encased in eggs that had been laid in an overturned coconut husk. The white eggs turned nearly clear when the baby Flamboyants were ready to hatch. The 8mm juveniles instantly took on their full Flamboyant coloration as they squirmed free of their eggs and began hunting for food in the sand.

Since she has been here so many times before, Nicole is able to spot some of the most interesting critters in Lembeh. She surprised even herself this week by spotting a “Greater Blue Ringed” Octopus. Who knew there were two types of Blue Rings?! The Greater Blue Ringed Octopus has larger and more intense blue rings than the more commonly seen Blue Ringed Octopus, and has a beautiful electric-blue marking running through its eye.

Dive site Teluk Kembahu (“TK”) continues to excite and amaze us all with its varied critter life. This week our guides spotted the rare Black coloration of the Hairy Frogfish there! Unfortunately, it was pressed up against a large carpet anemone that was home to a grumpy family of Anemone fish who had recently laid a patch of eggs. All of the Two Fish guests who were brave enough to attempt a photo of the Black Hairy Frogfish left with an Anemone Fish “kiss” on their knuckles.

In other news, the Mandarin Fish at Police Pier continue to be a crowd pleaser, and we are seeing a variety of Pygmy Seahorses and Lembeh Seadragons there as well. TK, Hairball and Rojos all have Hairy Frogfish cruising about, as well as Wonderpus and Mimic Octopus. Tiger Shrimp are plentiful in Lembeh right now and are making an appearance almost every single day! And of course, Nudibranches of all varieties continue to fascinate our Two Fish divers. This week’s most impressive Nudibranch find was a beautiful, undescribed Marionia species.

Photo Credit: Keith Massey
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