Hey TONMO peeps,
I'm a short-story writer working on a fiction piece that focuses on a scientist and his octopus (octopus vulgaris). In the story, sadly, the octopus dies (the story is really about the grief we humans feel when we lose an animal connection in our life). And long before I came an "official lurker" I was reading many of the threads on the site in order to learn more details about possible causes of death. What I've learned helped me immensely, but while searching the threads have uncovered some cool details that expand my own knowledge of cephalopods, I've discovered I have more questions specific to the narrative of my story.
What do you think, TONMO, can you help me out? Point me to threads that may provide the right answers, or share anecdotes from your own octopuses?
Here are the type of questions I'm looking for input on:
Equipment/technical questions: the story takes place in a lab where they are doing research on octopus intelligence, when Philip, the octopus, dies. So, they have to take him out of the tank. What is the name for the tool one might use to scoop him out? (While writerly to call it a scoop, the characters in the story would use a common name for it.)
Personality questions: While in focused on the aftermath of the octopus' death, several characters have fond memories of him, so I get to describe some of his antics. I think many people underestimate the ways aquatic animals can be engaged with people, and I want to have an example that reveals his character. Growing up, my friend had a saltwater tank with fishes in it, and whenever her father sat down to watch TV, one of her fishes would go to the surface and flick water on him. Would a common octopus do something similar--flick water out of the tank? Or, what other ways might an octopus "greet" or "play" with people?
Much thanks for all your help,
Renee
I'm a short-story writer working on a fiction piece that focuses on a scientist and his octopus (octopus vulgaris). In the story, sadly, the octopus dies (the story is really about the grief we humans feel when we lose an animal connection in our life). And long before I came an "official lurker" I was reading many of the threads on the site in order to learn more details about possible causes of death. What I've learned helped me immensely, but while searching the threads have uncovered some cool details that expand my own knowledge of cephalopods, I've discovered I have more questions specific to the narrative of my story.
What do you think, TONMO, can you help me out? Point me to threads that may provide the right answers, or share anecdotes from your own octopuses?
Here are the type of questions I'm looking for input on:
Equipment/technical questions: the story takes place in a lab where they are doing research on octopus intelligence, when Philip, the octopus, dies. So, they have to take him out of the tank. What is the name for the tool one might use to scoop him out? (While writerly to call it a scoop, the characters in the story would use a common name for it.)
Personality questions: While in focused on the aftermath of the octopus' death, several characters have fond memories of him, so I get to describe some of his antics. I think many people underestimate the ways aquatic animals can be engaged with people, and I want to have an example that reveals his character. Growing up, my friend had a saltwater tank with fishes in it, and whenever her father sat down to watch TV, one of her fishes would go to the surface and flick water on him. Would a common octopus do something similar--flick water out of the tank? Or, what other ways might an octopus "greet" or "play" with people?
Much thanks for all your help,
Renee