MEET 'octavia'!

[chrono_war01]

hm...red. Havn't heard of using redlight. But there was a video on NG that shows Humbolts 'seeing red', dunno if it agitates them or not, but they sure know something is going on with the red ligths.
Dunno if the other cephs will also see red.

 

[corw314]

If Octavia is a dwarf, there's a possability she has eggs! Especially the way you describe she has herself blocked in the den!!!! Her arrival shot reminds me of Rummler who I believe we also identified as Joubini!

Also, if you do a search for That Pet Place in Lancastor Pa, they have a website with directions!!!

Carol

 

[cthulhu77]

Cool present!!!! Interesting to see that stores are getting more into octos...same down here !
greg

 

[rcl]

I have installed red lighting in my aquarium and have had some interesting reaction to it (and a dark room)! First off, my urchin has now moved like CRAZY since I made things dark/red. This is something it hasn't done at all, so way cool!

As for the octopus, I have SEEN it now for the first time in a while. It isn't coming out, but I can see it peeking out at me and moving around inside the den. This makes me less worried, I'm pretty sure its safe... but its weird that it isn't coming out at all. I'm beginning to think that it indeed may have something to do with eggs. Is anything known about the breeding of octopus -- would it have waited until it got to my tank before doing this, since in its 'creature cage' it wouldn't have had a proper place to lay the eggs? This could explain the reclusion happening shortly after the octopus coming to my house. Also, what about males? Do they do anything special or weird before their life ends?

Robert

 

[Nancy]

Hi Robert,

I've read over this thread - your little octo does seem rather large for a pygmy octo. Now that it's hiding, it will be hard to take pics. Joubini only grows to a mantle size of less than 2 inches, and is reddish orange with pale bands across the web and arms, if that helps.

It's the time of year for egg laying. She might have a den with eggs - be sure to offer food where she can reach it without leaving her den. Most of them do seem to continue eating when provided with food like that. If she doesn't accept frozen food, try live - someone else had an octo with eggs that wouldn't accept frozen food anymore.

She is an attractive little octopus and I hope you enjoy her whatever.
As for the temperature, without knowing the species, it's hard. Probably just leave it at room temperature. O. joubini lives in the Gulf of Mexico - I've been told it's in the bay between Galveston and the Mainland, and I don't think the temperatue there is always so warm.

I'm going to start a new list of our octos for the non-bimac octo pets, so I'll add Octavia.

Nancy

 

[rcl]

Thank you for adding octavia and for your comments.

I have all of these shrimp and one crab still running around. I always see her looking out of her den at me, so I am sure that she sees this food running around constantly, yet none of it seems to be touched as far as I can tell. I would be shocked if this ended up with her not having eggs...

What happens to a male octopus? Everybody seems to talk about octos laying eggs.... but never about male octos? Do they stop taking food as well?

Robert

 

[Nancy]

Hi Robert,

The male octopus becomes senile. I haven't personally experienced this, but I believe Carol has. They seem to get a bewildered look and die shortly afterward.

If Octavia does have eggs, she will most likely not come out to hunt, even though you have a lot of food in the tank. A lot of us have had good results offering the food directly to the mother octo - maybe placing a piece of food where she can reach it without leaving her den.

I noticed that my bimac set up her den so that she could reach out her arms to the sand through crevices in the rocks and perhaps find a piece of food. But she was used to the feeding stick, so I gave her pieces of thawed frozen shrimp on the stick.

Nancy

 

[rcl]

BIG NEWS!!!!

Well OCTAVIA definitely was a female after all --- I came home after a long day and I was looking at how filthy this octo tank is (algae on sides) and I noticed a small creature with 8 arms blowing around in the current!!!!!!!!!!!! A baby!!!!!!!

I am completely excited. I think from what I have read, the best bet would be to try to raise them in this tank and let 'nature take its course'

There's only one so far, but it sounds like there may be around 150 that hatch over the next few days or longer? Wow, this is amazing!


Octopus Party

 

[dawnchihuahua]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for you!

P.S. DID you go to Rolling Ridge Elementary school in Sterling Park, Va a really really long time ago?

 

[rcl]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for you!

P.S. DID you go to Rolling Ridge Elementary school in Sterling Park, Va a really really long time ago?

I didn't, but I almost did!!! We moved a few miles in the other direction and thus I went to Sugarland Elementary. You are from the area I guess!

Perhaps you are thinking of an octopus you knew in 3rd grade