octopus behaving strangely

[bmatson]

My octopus has been acting very strange lately. First of all he has not eaten in 5 days. He always wanders around like he normally does when he wants food but when I offer to him he has no interest in it. The second thing is that the very tip of three of his arms are missing. It's only about a half a centimeter but I'm worried it might be autophagy. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Ben

 

[joefish84]

check your water

 

[bmatson]

I did Check my water this morning and it was okay. Ammonia

 

[corw314]

How long have you had your octopus? The ammonia should be at zero. Is he trying to climb out of the water by staying at the top of the tank? I would do a waterchange if you haven't already. Good luck!

Carol

 

[bmatson]

I have him for about 5 months. He hasn't been rtying to climb out of the water either. Infact he has been staying more near the bottom lately.

 

[cttlfish]

I would definatly do a water change. Tests are not always accurate, and it may be too late by the time your octo does try to climb out.

 

[bmatson]

Yeah I will do a water change tomorrow. I'm concerned about the fact that he is missing the tips of his arms though. I suppose I should wait and see. Does this sound like autophagy to anyone who has dealt with it before?

Thanks for all the advice.
Ben

 

[Jean]

Yeah I will do a water change tomorrow. I'm concerned about the fact that he is missing the tips of his arms though. I suppose I should wait and see. Does this sound like autophagy to anyone who has dealt with it before?

Thanks for all the advice.
Ben

It doesn't sound like autophagy..............but it does sound like either a water problem or senility. In autophagy they tend to bite the arms off at the base.

Do a water change ASAP. IF things don't improve it may be old age......sorry

J

 

[bmatson]

Thanks alot everyone I'll wait and see what happens. I will do a water change first thing tomorrow.
Thanks alot,
Ben

 

[Mermaid]

What is autophagy?

 

[Jean]

Autophagy is literally self eating! The octopus eats it's own arms. Its incurable and highly contagious (to octopus....haven't heard of any instance of octopus keepers eating their own arms and I don't think my nails count!!) and always fatal.

J

 

[oceanbound]

basically octopus suicide/cannibalism

 

[Nancy]

Any update on this?

Nancy

 

[Colin]

What is autophagy?

be warned, don't do a Google search on autophagy unless you have a strong stomach!!! I did a few years ago and it can be pretty grim, its not just octopuses that do it.

 

[Cajunman]

Autophagy is literally self eating! The octopus eats it's own arms. Its incurable and highly contagious (to octopus....haven't heard of any instance of octopus keepers eating their own arms and I don't think my nails count!!) and always fatal.

J

Okay, wait a minute here?
This Autophagy thing is a bit odd.
Am i understanding this correctly?
Not only will an octo eat it's self, but the act of eating it's self is
contagious to other octo's?