Rescued an octopus from an Asian Food Market today

[davelin315]

Stopped into an Asian Food Market today and was saddened to see a bunch of octopuses in a tank, all dead with the exception of this one and possibly another one, but this one was moving around and looking very sad to be in there... it's different than buying a "don't encourage them" type of thing from a local fish store, as this is a food source and they're going to bring them in regardless... anyway, I couldn't help myself. It's currently in a 10 gallon tank as that's the best I could throw together with cold water and an ice probe to keep it cool until I figure out what it is (tank is woefully small for it, it's arms stretch across the tank and can curl up the wall while it's in the corner). My guess is that it's from the West Coast as it was in with abalone and I think that they are collected in California waters, but no idea. Here are some pictures that I sent to the National Zoo to get an ID from a friend there in the Invert House. The ones where it's just sitting there are from when the lights were on, the ones where it's stretched out are from when it was dark and I turned on the lights.

 

[davelin315]

Still no signs of eating as of last night, but I left an emerald crab in there (stunned from the cold) and a piece of shrimp right next to its den.

One question, I can't remember if I've asked this before - do octopuses have light sensitivity on their arms? They all seem to withdraw if I shine a light at their arms, regardless of whether it hits their head or mantle at all.

 

[CaptFish]

One question, I can't remember if I've asked this before - do octopuses have light sensitivity on their arms? They all seem to withdraw if I shine a light at their arms, regardless of whether it hits their head or mantle at all.

Good question. Roger Hanlon just released a paper about how cuttlefish may sense light through their skin. very interesting stuff.

http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/04/08/rsbl.2010.0223

 

[SabrinaR]

Where do you go that they have live octos? The asian markets here in houston dont keep them at all or so they have said anyway... good luck with this one!

 

[Joe-Ceph]

It is my understanding that live octopus is a specifically Korean thing, so check "Asian" markets in Korea Town

 

[L8 2 RISE]

sooooo, how's it going?

 

[davelin315]

Frustrating! This one is still alive but still has not eaten and won't take anything I offer. It inks when I disturb it, though, but again, it won't eat. I've been searching for live crayfish and will try and find some crabs tonight at Petsmart to feed it. This one certainly has lived longer than any of the others but is so stubborn about not eating. One thing I did notice was that this one seems to have shed its mucous coating or outer layer of skin last week but seems to be very responsive and alert. I am wondering if I should increase the temperature a bit. The ones that ate before were at around 57 degrees and this one is at 52-54 degrees like the store. If metabolism increases perhaps interest in food will also increase.

 

[L8 2 RISE]

I'd leave the temp alone now. Messing with it may just stress it out more, and if it is metabolism, it means that the octo will just need food in longer intervals than normal, and it will most likely live longer. If it hasn't eaten at this point though, it looks pretty dire. Have you left live food in with it?

 

[davelin315]

Yup, there's a snail in there still, some abalone, and I leave the crabs in as long as they'll survive.

 

[davelin315]

Well, it's still alive and very responsive and active. It checked out a piece of shrimp with a couple of arms but didn't do much more than that. It appears very alert and is holding up well, but it still has not eaten. I am in search of crayfish and other crabs to see what I can do to tempt it. It's been 26 days without any of the signs of death that the others have shown. I have avoided doing anything too active near the tank because I'm afraid that if it continues to ink it'll suffer from doing so. Not sure where the ink it has is coming from, though, as I thought they derived the ink from their food sources, but having not eaten, I'm not sure of that. Anyone know of any baitshops in the DC area?

 

[L8 2 RISE]

I could catch you some crawfish in a couple of minutes... There's a stream near Fox Mill ES full of them.

 

[davelin315]

So what are you waiting for? I have been trying to find some near me but the creek near my house is all mud so they have their tunnels that they live in. I wonder if disease is much of a concern with them, though, if they are wild caught? I would think that the combination of the salt and the cold water would shock any sort of pathogen to death, but not sure. I did put in another one of the red claw crabs today and more or less put it right on top of it, but it wasn't interested still. It examined it half-heartedly and then left it alone.

 

[davelin315]

Well, it died over Memorial Day weekend, so I figure it lived 42 days without eating in my care. I have let the tank recuperate since then and am planning trying it again, but haven't been able to get into the store lately. Since school is over this week I'll try it again. I may also see if I can get them to capture some other kinds for me, perhaps some babies as I know they are collected for food. A tank full of little octopuses would be cool...

 

[DWhatley]

A tank full of little octopuses would be cool

There might be a small problem with this thought though. Many are known to be cannibalistic. In our home aquariums, we have managed to keep multiples of the dwarf O. mercatoris but only have documented success of animals raised together (and tentatively those caught in the same location). Food raising experiments with vulgaris have shown it possible with that species with notes about keeping the animals of similar size together. O. briareus and O. cyanea are known to attack and eat each other in the wild. You might have to convert the large tank to house them if you don't get a dwarf species

 

[monty]

RIP, and keep us informed of your adventures in octopus rescue!

 

[Renee]

I really loved reading this. I'm watching our H Mart number two octopus die today. She's very arm active but, but doesn't have good mantle control. Eyes arent bad, but she's weak and grey. Neither of them ate, and the male (who appeared stronger) was dead this morning on just day 3. They're so beautiful and mysterious, it is truly very difficult to watch them fade. I think without a more intense setup, I won't have luck with subsequent ones, we were keeping them at 72degrees.
Funny thing, When I was a kid, I lived in Korea. Also, the placard at the H Mart said they were sourced from Korea. Big language barrier issues with the staff. (at least 3 different languages...tagalog, Korean, spaninsh) It's an hour from my house, so I'll go back there again, eventually, but I'm kind of glad I won't be tempted routinely, because, even as their fate here was not good, it was a gift to have them around.
i have a couple of videos from ios devices if anyone wants them emailed.