Biddle continues to grow larger and larger. I am still not sure what species he is so if anyone has any ideas. This morning I caught what I have always called the "conehead" but in looking at him swimming away, he looks like he's copying a squid. All these different looks were within a span of 5 minutes!

I'm not sure, but that really looks like an aculeatus. Where'd you catch it?

Oops, I misread your post. I thought it said "the morning I caught it" but it said "This morning I caught it". Sorry about that. Do you know where it's from?

Biddle has grown a lot, but still isn't too large, judging from the barnacles in the pic. He's a handsome and interesting-looking octopus.

Tywtly, you (and others) can find information on our TONMO.com octopuses by looking at the List of Our Octopuses at the top of this forum. Carol bought Biddle in mid-March. If you look back at the photos, you'll see he was quite small when he arrived.

Nancy

Oh, ok.

So August will be 5 months!:smile: He's awesome. Loves to interact with everyone. Tonight he was plastered to his favorite spot in the back of the tank. I had 5 visitors who were amazed at his color changes. He went from white with brown to his total reddish black look. And here's a good size reference. I measured the Eheim intake and it's 4 inches from the bottom of the strainer to the top of the lettering.

Carol,
At what point did Biddle go from shy to interactive? Did this happen after Spike died and could Biddle see spike's tank?

Biddle has always interacted with me but a few weeks ago I found out my oldest son has been playing hide and seek with him when he comes home late at night from school. You still need to move slowly so he doesn't get startled as he is still skittish and quick to go hide in this huge den he's built at the back of the tank. He has pulled everything he can get a hold of so I'm hoping this doesn't mean impending motherhood. And Biddle is not day or night active but both. If he hears someone walk by, he's out to see what's going on.

And no, Biddle could not see Spikes tank. I think he's just gotten very secure in his surroundings and it's been since I found out my oldest son has been interacting with him. Now he's the one with the "shaved" head that Inklet had a fascination with....

So what is this hide and seek game that your son plays with Biddle? (I'm trying to catalog octopus games, such as "pull the stick" and "capture the magnet and don't give it back".)

It's a lot of fun when they're interactive!

Nancy

From what my son says, Biddle runs around the tank trying to spot him as he's hiding out of his vision. Would love to see this as my oldest has to be 6'4 and I'm sure it's hard for him to position out of sight by the tank!

Also, just learned tonight, Biddle likes freshly caught flounder.

Couple more pics. He likes the baby keys!:smile:

This morning, I go out into the living room and he's in total spike mode! I scared him with my one camera. Didn't realize the flash was on and now he's cautious again on approaching when he see's the camera in my hand. I feel bad. I only flashed him once and it was enough for him to now run for cover when he see's the camera. Very smart!

that is a awsome picture. very neat!

Wow, is he ever a mass of texture. No octopus there!

Biddle does seem to have the greatest variety in appearance of any of your octopuses. Please keep posting these wonderful pics. Hope Biddle gets used to the camera again soon.

Nancy

Carol,
I wonder what he would do if you just left the camera out where he could see it all the time. He still may realize the it flashed when you pick it up but maybe seeing it all day will help. Biddle is definitely high on the most interesting octopuses reported list!

Welll.....Biddle is over his shyness and fear of being flashed. After a 28 photo session, my son said as soon as I and the camera left he went back to his den to eat. We went collecting tonight at low tide and came back with 1/4 quart baggie full of crabs and good size snails. We decided to see what Biddle would do if he couldn't get to the crab. I know it's mean:twisted:! Anyway, he grabbed it, swam to the back, but when I tapped the tank came right back and sat on the glass till I left. And we have noted almost nightly, when my son is watching Simpsons, Biddle is plastered in the corner where I took the shot of him with my hand for size comparison. My finger span from tip to thumb was 6" and his fastest leg is the size of one of my fingers.

He sure is big! Looks like you have some evaporation to catch up on >.>


PS - He does look similar to Kaleidoscope. There's a chance that he is O. Vulgaris; people used to think they were the synonyms (if you read the post I made in Animal Mother's Tuvalu thread you can see the reference).

WOW! Awesome pictures! He looks kinda big!

Yeah, the top left picture looks very similar to Tuvalu too... but who knows?

Is Biddle anything like G2 as far as personality and skin changes?

Biddle took quite a while to become friendly and stop being skittish. He used to see us and slither back under his hiding spot, with a strategically placed eye to observe from afar. G2 was friendly from the get go. If you look back through this thread, Biddle is very much like G2 with his color changes but the difference is G2 had eye spots and Biddle does not. And I like to keep my tanks low to discourage escape. Biddle has become increasing curious and now if he's at the top of the tank, stretches his leg out the top to feel around. He got a hold of my oldest son last week and Robert said he had quite a time getting him off of his hand.

Could you PM me (or post) some more pictures of G2? I looked through my TFH yesterday and flipped through the page about your octopuses. G2 looked very much to me like Kaleidoscope, especially the size and design on the ocelli.

Biddle likes the mega block! I missed a great photo! He grabbed the lego and floated down to the bottom totally wrapped around it. I need to go get some more toys. My son reports at night Biddle is playing like crazy with everything in his tank. I've given up trying to replace the bubble filter lid as he removes it every night. And a couple of pics of G2. I did not realize he was with me back in 2004. He lived in the same tank Biddle is now in.

We collected food tonight. Dumped in about 20 live local shrimp, and a couple crabs. Biddle did not know what to grab first. There's a few shrimp from the last collection that have been outsmarting him as they've been living in the tank for about a month now.

Handsome little devil.

Carol,
Do you have a dog? I swear Biddle is showing a begging posture!

Nice pics of Biddle!

Is he really a mottled purple, like he looks in your photos?

Nancy

:smile: Ya know you can almost hear him whining when he see's we have food! And yes, that is the true colors, but he changes so drastically. Lately when he's full, he has a whitesh look with a touch of that iridescent blue and orange suckers.

6 months this month...He's eating me out of house and home....We went collecting yesterday and he eats everything from killies to the local shrimp to spearing...he doesn't care what it is if it's food, it's gone. I am thinking of adding a second canister filter to the tank. I may really need to either get my 47 back up and running or contact Jenkinsons and see if they have a spare tank. Everyone is so attached to him. My son says nightly Biddle is out playing with the green lego. He said he stalks it, grabs it and then floats to the bottom on it. Plus Biddle constantly is up in the corner watching TV. Pic #3 shows you how nosy Biddle is. He ran scared back to his den, but couldn't resist peaking out to see what I was up to.

Fantastic pictures as always. Why the talk of other tanks?

My guess is it's because he's getting so big!

How long is his mantle, Carol?

He's the most beautiful octopus you've kept (and you've kept quite a few). He has such a range of color and texture.

Nancy

Carol,
Your reports on Biddle watching TV and others commenting on TV or monitors makes me wonder about their lack of "color" vision. The test that I have read all used reflective color (object) but the TV and monitors create color in a different way (by combining light even the primaries are different). It makes me wonder if they really can see colored light. I wish Roy or Steve would get one of their students to experiment.

AM As I recall, tiny little biddle was originally housed in a small tank and Spike had the larger one. Carol was going to transfer Biddle about the time the tank soaked her bed.

The tank size is an issue. I have not had the funds to purchase a new tank and had I known Biddle would get as large as he has, I would not have purchased him, although I am quite attached as is my whole family. I think for now I am adding a huge Eheim on his tank to supplement the smaller one and hopefully I will be able to purchase a replacement tank soon. Curled up he has to be the size of a large grapefruit. Mantle must be at lease 4". He's very big. Has pulled everything including very large pieces of rock to the center of the tank. He has a massive den and still does the slithering back to his hiding spot like he did when he first got here.

The tank size is an issue. I have not had the funds to purchase a new tank and had I known Biddle would get as large as he has, I would not have purchased him, although I am quite attached as is my whole family. I think for now I am adding a huge Eheim on his tank to supplement the smaller one and hopefully I will be able to purchase a replacement tank soon. Curled up he has to be the size of a large grapefruit. Mantle must be at lease 4". He's very big. Has pulled everything including very large pieces of rock to the center of the tank. He has a massive den and still does the slithering back to his hiding spot like he did when he first got here.


WOW! Thinking he is a Vulgaris?

I'm not sure what he is but he has grown bigger than I ever expected. Jess and I went collecting tonight and he had his first really large crab......one with a shell of about 3". I am very lucky in that I live 10 minutes from fresh caught food. We do most of the collecting of food ourselves and sometimes I think that is why my octopuses usually live for a good amount of time because of the variety and the freshness from the ocean and bays. Tonight we brought home mudflat snails, all different types of crabs and a whole bunch of shore shrimp. The one pic of him on the barnacles gives you a good size reference as to his size.

I think aculeatus is correct. As you can see with this guy I photoed in Indonesia, there is a distinct white stripe type marking that is particular to them. They can change their shape dramatically, sometimes becoming very "spikey" also.
This guy was pretending to be a piece of dead eel grass, floating by.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w162/allisonfinch_photos/Cephlapods/wonderpus.jpg

Nope...I really do not think he is aculeatus. I think he's too large. His legs are the thickness of my fingers as you can see in the one pic. I just can't get enough pics of this guy...He constantly amazes me with his many changes in coloring and texture.

I have a question about Biddle - we've seen him do so many colors and textures. I'm somewhat familiar with that tank from your photos. Would you say that Biddle is trying to camoflage himself by matching the color of his surroundings, or are these colors more arbitrary?

Nancy

Hi Nancy,

I'd say he's changing to match his surroundings. In the one pic he is the same color as the lava rock and I think his spikeyness at times is copying the lava rock also. But at times he can be an iridescent blue with white touches and brown blotches. There is now some large pieces of sea glass that is blue and green but this coloration is when he is near his den eating his dinner. So in answer to your question, at times yes he is copying and at other times no.

Wow, that is a fabulous Octo! It looks like so much fun, i hope i can have one someday.

I know I'm on a Filosus kick lately, but Biddle truly looks a lot like Tuvalu did. Texture, colors and all, minus the size. According to Cephbase, Filosus are supposed to grow to around 12" arms and about 3.5" mantle, so around 15" stretched out.

I just looked through Cephbase's pics on Filosus and Biddle does not have an eyespot. I'm really starting to think Vulgaris, especially when the one pic notes "extreme texture expression".... I had no idea this was what I was purchasing and it just goes to show these stores really need to get more educated on their identyfying of what they carry cause "Commen Brown Octopus" obviously does not do it.... And I'm so attached I need to rethink my tank plan quickly as I don't want to have to give him up.....


http://www.cephbase.com/imgdb/imgsrch3.cfm?ID=901&PhotographerID=&CephID=495&Location=&Keywords=&LowestTaxa=
http://www.cephbase.com/imgdb/imgsrch3.cfm?ID=889&PhotographerID=&CephID=495&Location=&Keywords=&LowestTaxa=

Carol,
I have (and I think you too :smile:) been kind of thinking Vulgaris all along (after discounting the coconut octo - can't spell Marginaris without looking it up) because of the extremes of texture and colors. The growth rate also suggest a larger octo and Vulgaris is the most common. As a result, we are seriously considering restetting up our 140 as an octo tank.

I initially wanted a Bimac sized octo and had hoped Trapper was Briarius - tuned out otherwise but I have been totally captivated. Then when you kept multiples, we sort of said, "Why not?" but then there were (are) the babies. Our 140 was set up for seahorses so the "corals" would be safe (or removable) for an octo and we lost our last Erectus a month a go) soooo we have been eyeing that tank and your posts about Biddle have pretty much been the last straw :sagrin:.

Unfortunately, the rock work is not octo safe and will have to be glued so a major breakdown and labor effort will be required. We have been planning another large tank so the critters will be moved to the new tank and the whole process will take the better part of a year but we won't add anything to the 140 in the meantime. The tank is pretty much ideal for an octo (complete with chiller) of most any variety and looks a lot like the Vulgaris tank at Mote. If we do end up with one that big, the tank will be about half the recommended size but still doable with weekly water changes (there were two in the tank at Mote with no more room - possible more water volume though. I want to write Jason and ask but, as Biddle proves out, you never quite know what you get and the tank should be acceptable for anything.

Just thought I would lay the blame on your wonderful, and getting expensive critter.

Well....ya know they have a way of captivating you from the get go and that is exactly why I usually have 2 (in separate tanks) so I never have to go without as I'm so amazed by them. Jess and I are going collecting, (again :smile:) as soon as she gets home from a pool party. I have to say I have never experienced an animal with this food demand and I'm very glad I live within 10 minutes of catching live food for him. We have been averaging once a week collections and now he's so large he pays no mind to the mud snails any more.

I wish I had the space for a 200 gal. He may have to settle for a 100 for now. I'm working on it! I'm hoping my sons can fashion a quick stand out of 2 x 4's and I can use the existing massive culture from my 47 to get it up and running pretty quick. Just have to figure out where it's going.

I know I've said it before (I think in this thread even), but I believe Biddle is a Vulgaris because he looks a lot like O. Filosus only without the eyespots. In the case that renamed O. Filosus to O. Hummelincki it said that O. Filosus used to be considered synonymous with O. Vulgaris, but they later found the species to be synonymous with O. Hummelincki.

I think someone at Mote said that it was considered weird that the 2 vulgaris get along OK, and that they had been caught together.

But never 2 in the same tank....Maybe I should have clarified that. I have tanks on either end of my home so each when I have had 2 have had their own tank.:smile:

Carol,
I think Monty was referring to my comment about converting my existing tank and mentioning the two vulgaris that are housed at Mote.

Monty,
I was more interested in the container size, not in keeping two. I don't think is it over 200 gallons and I know they have mega water but the amount of space may have been deceptive since the tank was out of doors. My interest is more in, "if I go through the pain of redoing the tank, will it accomodate any octo I get, including a vulgaris?". I know these two have grown up in that container and if it is as small as I think, then I will be more comfortable with having met my goal.

Monty,
I was more interested in the container size, not in keeping two. I don't think is it over 200 gallons and I know they have mega water but the amount of space may have been deceptive since the tank was out of doors. My interest is more in, "if I go through the pain of redoing the tank, will it accomodate any octo I get, including a vulgaris?". I know these two have grown up in that container and if it is as small as I think, then I will be more comfortable with having met my goal.

Yeah, I was pretty sure you knew that, but I wanted to clarify for the people who search the site wanting to know if they can keep 2 octos together in one tank. Of course, Mote probably has an open system with fresh seawater, too.

Lesson of the day.....I have kept octopuses over a good 20 years and I did something really stupid....Biddle did not get hurt, but I really did not think. This morning I go out to Biddle's tank and the large bubble filter is totally torn apart....now this is what I do not recommend....Using fishing line to tie together the bubble filter. I just got done with a tiny pair of scissors cutting fishing line from around Biddle's body. He had it wrapped. loosely, thank goodness, but I had to put cuts all around him to remove pieces so it would not tighten up on his legs and body. At first he came after me very red when I put both my hands in the tank, but then he calmed and let me come close to cut the line. Hardware store today for very long plastic wire ties.....

:goofysca: Wow, I have rescued many a marine mammal tangled in fishing line (and even a pigeon once), but it never occurred to me that an octopus could injure itself with fishing line. I often use fishing line to "sew" fiberglass screen over big openings in my tanks. I will be considering other ways to secure the netting.

Good luck.

Dang!

Biddle is one of those little octopus engineers - always taking things apart. I don't know whether some species are more likely than others to do this, but certainly it varies by individual octopus.

Nancy

I had the bait...One gum ball container with a good sized crab inserted.....I put it in the tank, washed off the glass for clear pics, set up a comfy chair with my camera and waited.....15 minutes later, I decided to add water to the gum ball container with the crab so it would sink more, dashed 2 seconds to rinse and dry my hands before resuming stalking position.....came back and it was over before I even sat down. He had the gum ball container already, snapped it open and was back in position on the back of the tank gloating............

Oh, too bad, I'd love to see the pics! Has he opened this container before?

So please try again with the camera!

Biddle displays such wonderful colors.

Nancy

Nope...Biddle has never opened the container before and I swear he knew why I was sitting so patiently waiting with camera in hand. He took the strainer off the Eheim intake yesterday. I came home to him sitting with the rest of the tube engulfed by his body. I'm wondering if part of him was being sucked up where he had removed the strainer. After he tired of it, I reached in to reattach the strainer and so far he has steered clear of it. We wire tied the bubble filter closed so he can not dismantle it any more. Lately his diet has been Mako shark as I have not had the chance to go to the fish market or collecting with our mini Maine trip. Hope to have new pics sometime this weekend and I will try the bubblegum container again with another crab and hopefully he will cooperate!

Carrol,
Unless the plastic ties are deceving, I think Biddle has opened a container before (didn't he do this once before?), just not one you gave him to open :sagrin:

Yes he did.....He taunted me with dismantling the wire tied bubble filter for months....till I took drastic action....Now he just rips off the airline tubing about once a day...:smile:

How is Biddle doing?

Biddle is doing wonderfully! He's currently eating scallop, crabs and we still have Mako left. I think his growth has slowed as he does not seem to have gained any more to his size. Currently, curled up he is the size of a large grapefruit. His legs as about an inch in width and his mantle is about 4 to 5 inches. He was really mad at me after the last tank overhaul and was "snubbing" me but now he must have cooled off as he's back to observing all of us. Last night he was plastered to the side watching me in the kitchen. His tank sits in a central place in our livingroom where he can observe the entire livingroom, the dining area and my kitchen. I want another one as I really miss having one in my bedroom. My 47 still sits 1/2 full, full of crabs I can't reach and the serpent star that has lived with over 10 octopuses. I may be making a trip to Lancaster next weekend so my hope is to pick up a replacement tank. What kind of sand is recommended these days? All my tanks have the crushed coral.

Something I learned from my local aquarium society: Home Depot sells 50lb bags of crushed limestone for $5 apiece. You have to rinse the crap out of it, but it looks great once clean. Still had a nasty cloud while cycling the tank I used it in but by the time the tank I used it in cycled, it was crystal clear. Haven't had any issues since. Kind of a pain in the butt, but well worth the trouble IMO. The limestone apparently helps buffer the pH very well.

8 months since Biddle arrived as this tiny slithering black blob who was scared of us for about 2 months. I came home tonight and he was out watching, waiting for his nightly scallop. My hand is 6 inches to the wrist. I liked the one pic as you can see his eye, as I never realized how much they bubble out.

Biddle has really grown! What a fine looking octopus.

Biddle's story should be an inspiration for all who have shy octopuses.

Nancy

yes, it surely inspired me to control myself and stop searching for Fecha like crazy every chance i got, and she seems to finally be getting used to me.

December will be 9 months since Biddle arrived. His growth seems to have slowed, thank goodness. Curled up his the size of a large grapefruit. He eats daily and has taken to when he's hungry he goes to the top of the tank and sticks his arms out the tiny openings in the lid. Most is taped but there is 1/8" opening where the lid does not fit tightly and he has discovered if we notice a tip of an arm feeling around the outside of the tank, he gets fed. Looks like something out of a science thriller and I really need to try and get this on photo or video.

Wow, you sure have had Biddle for a long time. You must have gotten him very young. Or you are just doing something right :)

Hi carol

what another great job you are doing :)

what ID did you conclude? vulgaris???

:)

Yes, Biddle has been around a long time and you've given us some wonderful photos of him (but we'd like more!)

Would love to see his arms sticking out the hole signalling for food. Of course, he has you well trained, as they all do.

You're one of our all-time great octopus keepers - you've kept quite a number of them and many have lived a long time.

Keep up the good work!

Nancy

Thanks Nancy! I don't know what I do right, but sometimes I think having access to the fresh food, being I'm 10 minutes from the ocean is a very good thing! Lately Biddle has been eating the large shrimp from Costco and scallops but he seems to be doing great and eating daily!

Colin - Still don't know species...think Vulgaris but I'm not positive as his growth rate has seemed to slow up and I thought they got much larger than Biddle.

And when Biddle arrived he was the size of a 50 cent piece curled up. Took him about 2 months to realize we meant him no harm. Will try to get some pics of his arms coming out of the tank!:smile:

This spikey, looking like a piece of Lava rock seems to be his norm when at rest! If you were out diving, you'd have a hard time realizing there was an octopus sitting there!

Carol,
Intersting that he chooses the spikey look (my favorite). Did you get a chance to see the Vulgaris at Mote? They were very relaxed but did not take on spikey (I think I have pictures posted under the TONMOCON thread) but were pretty smooth the whole time I was watching them (I had to be dragged away). I wonder if that is individual choice or tank decor.

that is the most beautiful Octo i have seen, great job at caring for him. I believe the love and affection and the attention your giving him really makes the differance. would like to see more pics, your pics are awsome! this makes me want a larger species bad! I am gonna get one as soon as i can, lol

again great job! and thanks for sharing all those pics and info.

Mark,

Thanks! I'm one of the obsessed octo owners although I must say I think once you have experienced them you are hooked!!! Couple pics from tonight. He's very happy with the increased filtration but has been off feed a few days. He may be sick of scallops so we are running to the bait or seafood store tonight.

fantastic pics again carol, what a cool octo :)

that's a really interesting octo... I'd have to say I have never seen one like it.

RIP Biddle....Unfortunately this will be the end of the pics. I woke at 2am and found he had passed. He had stopped eating Friday and I was worried but not. A very unusual octopus that I will miss, very much.

sorry to hear!


thank you for sharing him with all of us, I know i learned alot and enjoyed the pics and info your shared.

Mark,

Carol,
I am crying - "D"

RIP Biddle, certainly a candidate for "most photogenic octo" :angelpus:

RIP,sorry to hear it.

:tentacle::angelpus: Oh, so sorry Carol, what a great animal Biddle was.

RIP Biddle, you were an amazing and beautiful octopus. We will all miss you. :angelpus: :tentacle:

So sorry to hear, Carol. Such a charismatic octo - I love the eye shots above! We will miss Biddle.

Sorry Carol. Biddle will be missed.

Hi Carol

glad you were able to give the octopus such a great home!

Carol,

So sorry to hear about Biddle - he's been one of my favorites and we've all enjoyed the photos of his spectacular colors and textures. Guess we'll never know what species he was.

You have him a wonderful home and have recorded his life so well in photos.

RIP Biddle :angelpus: You will be missed.

Nancy

Carol,
I am crying - "D"

Dang, I think I'm about to. So sorry.

Okay, I'm not about to now. :cry:

I forgot to mention to all of you who loved Biddle: Carol had him almost 10 months, according to the List of Our Octopuses.

Nancy

So sorry, biddle was a great octopus and i wish one day i can have an octo even half as amazing as biddle. Im sure he lived a happy life, as we can see by the pictures.

Thanks everyone....I'm so sad but on a good note, that 55 gal I mentioned a while back is being delivered Saturday and will be my new future next octopuses new home. And Nancy, I think he almost made it to 11 months if I'm not mistaken as I bought him in March around my birthday the 14th.

I am sorry I love all of the pics of Biddle and his tricks... I wish we know what kind of octo he was.... i want one like him...

where did you get him?

Biddle came from That Pet place in Pa. He was an expected find and such a tiny baby. We still are not positive, but think he was a vulgaris. I miss him! :) He was awesome!