Question about bimac babies

[tywtly]

Are bimac babies planktonic or benthic? I got to thinking a minute ago, and if my bimacs breed when I get thgem, then I at least need to know what to look for in the way of babies. Thanks in advance everybody.

 

[monty]

Are bimac babies planktonic or benthic? I got to thinking a minute ago, and if my bimacs breed when I get thgem, then I at least need to know what to look for in the way of babies. Thanks in advance everybody.

The only major difference between the two bimac species is that one is large-egged and benthic, the other is small-egged and planktonic. I always get them mixed up, though... Octopus bimaculoides is the one with large eggs, which is most frequently bred for tank-bred animals. Octopus bimaculatus is the small-egged species. They're very hard to tell apart, so if you catch your own in California, you could get either one; it's hard to be sure unless you're getting one raised from a large egg in a tank (although experts can look closely at the eyespots and tell the difference).

 

[Nancy]

I suspect that they aren't found in exactly the same place. I was told by a supplier some years ago that they don't find bimaculatus when looking for bimaculoides becuase they aren't found at the same depth and they like different habitats. And in fact, they always provided O. bimaculoides.

According to Mark Norman's book, Cephalopods of the World, O. bimaculatus is found "on rocky reefs to depths of 50m". Bimaculoides "typically occurs on mud and sand habitats, as well as on rocky reefs to depths of at least 20m

Of course, they're closely related and probably overlap in some areas. I wish we could get a more exact idea about where along the California coast each species is found.

Nancy

 

[tywtly]

ok, thanks. I'm planning on getting captive born, if not for better health, then at least to discourage capture of wild animals. Thanks for your help!