There is something that needs to be said here. Yes, it's good that you're able to keep octopuses and you've learned a lot. It's good that you're posting photos.
BUT, the reason we don't recommend keeping wunderpuses (often sold as mimics) is not that they're difficult to keep. The reason is that the species appears to be threatened, so it's not appropriate to collect and sell wunderpuses, given that their numbers appear to be reduced already.
By buying one from an LFS, you let the LFS profit from selling this species and encourage the LFS to order more. Therefore more will be collected to meet this order. We know of many octopus species that are not threatened, are available, and would be interesting for anyone to keep, so it's not necessary to sell or want to buy wunderpuses.
In addition, wunderpuses are often sold as mimics, so buyers expect to see the octopuses "perform". More than one has been returned to the LFS for failure to perform.
Sometimes we come across a "rescue" situation, where a wunderpus that has already been purchased from an LFS need another home. At least in this case, further collection is not encouraged. The wunderpus that Thales recently acquired falls into this category.
Now that you have the wunderpus, maybe you can find a way to help further understanding about the species.
Nancy
BUT, the reason we don't recommend keeping wunderpuses (often sold as mimics) is not that they're difficult to keep. The reason is that the species appears to be threatened, so it's not appropriate to collect and sell wunderpuses, given that their numbers appear to be reduced already.
By buying one from an LFS, you let the LFS profit from selling this species and encourage the LFS to order more. Therefore more will be collected to meet this order. We know of many octopus species that are not threatened, are available, and would be interesting for anyone to keep, so it's not necessary to sell or want to buy wunderpuses.
In addition, wunderpuses are often sold as mimics, so buyers expect to see the octopuses "perform". More than one has been returned to the LFS for failure to perform.
Sometimes we come across a "rescue" situation, where a wunderpus that has already been purchased from an LFS need another home. At least in this case, further collection is not encouraged. The wunderpus that Thales recently acquired falls into this category.
Now that you have the wunderpus, maybe you can find a way to help further understanding about the species.
Nancy
. I have not let mine succeed with this so I can't tell you what happens. Judging from our different feeding attempts, it would appear that the suckers closer to the mouth are more sensative to taste than the ones near the end so it is entirely possible that getting a closer "look" at the taste might stop a biting process but if you have the taste of food on your fingers, probably not. All second guessing, of course.
