Hi all,

Today is the 6 month anniversary of Ollie's arrival. Happy to report that he's doing well and is hunting small shrimp at this moment.

Here is a pic - there is a slight double image becasue of the curved class on my aquarium front - but it's Ollie, up at the waterline hunting shrimp.

Nancy

wow...he looks great!

He looks so big and healthy!!! I was looking at some old shots of Ink and the growth is just amazing!!! We should start a board with before and present shots to compare the differences of everyones!!!!

Carol

WOW Nancy, Ollie looks fantastic!!!!! Im so glad he is doing well :D

Nancy, you need to try and post a pic of Ollie next to a hand or something for size reference... :) Just so we can see just how big he really is!

C

OK, I'll work on that. The funny thing about Ollie (and all bimacs, I suppose) is that he can be different sizes, bigger or smaller. Maybe he makes himself larger by filling his mantle with water and extending his arms. I've found it very difficult to measure him, but I get the impression that he is larger than the standard bimac dimensions.

Nancy

Here's my attempt at measuring! Ink thought it was a game!! Looked like he was cramming his eyeball to watch every move! Not sure what I ended up measuring, but he seemed to enjoy the attention!!

Carol

That is sooooooo cute! Looks like he's playing peekaboo.

That is such a great pic of Ink being measured, Carol!

As for Ollie's size - I'm reposting the pic here because the magnet is about 4 inches long. So the distance from his eye to the tip of his mantle is at least 6 inches, and I've measured his arms at over 14 inches. His arms are quite substantial, too (and really fun to touch!).

Nancy

That is such a great pic of Ink being measured, Carol!

As for Ollie's size - I'm reposting the pic here because the magnet is about 4 inches long. So the distance from his eye to the tip of his mantle is at least 6 inches, and I've measured his arms at over 14 inches. His arms are quite substantial, too (and really fun to touch!).

Nancy
Nancy do u enjoy touching you're big and healthy octo?
I LOVE touching octopuses and letting them feel me with pleasure and curiosity. It feels good.
They feel soo squishy, and soft and slippery when they touch you.
It's amazing. And they feel lovable.
That's why I love BIG octopuses becuase u can feel them more with all the suckers and arms.

Most people think octopuses are completely disgusting when you touch them. I hate when people always say "YUCK!!!" when they see them.

Yes, I like touching my octopus. (I think he likes touching me, too)

You're right, he does feel soft and squishy and a bit slippery. The place under his eyes where Ollie likes to be rubbed is very muscular so feels a bit different, but still very nice.

It took a long time for Ollie to trust me enough to let me touch him. Now he expects (or even demands) it several times a day!

Nancy

Yes, I like touching my octopus. (I think he likes touching me, too)

You're right, he does feel soft and squishy and a bit slippery. The place under his eyes where Ollie likes to be rubbed is very muscular so feels a bit different, but still very nice.

It took a long time for Ollie to trust me enough to let me touch him. Now he expects (or even demands) it several times a day!

Nancy

awww, I WISH I could go 2 you're house and touch it ALL day.
Have u ever took ollie out of his tank and let him walk around the house with you? LOL.
When octopus are out of the water they feel more slimy and softer.
How long could Ollie last out of the water?

Nancy, trust me, dont take him out of the water and let him walk around the house :? :grad: he will die, not that you didnt know that already :wink:

No, I'm not going to take Ollie out of the water and let him walk around the house! :)

Ollie has a good view of things from his tank. About a month ago he was very curious about the world outside his tank, so we allowed him to climb up and sit on the edge of his tank and feel all around it, while we were there to help him. That seemed to satisfy his curiosity. Since then he hasn't wanted to come out again. I tape up the tank very well so he can't go exploring on his own, too.

Nancy

No, I'm not going to take Ollie out of the water and let him walk around the house! :)

Ollie has a good view of things from his tank. About a month ago he was very curious about the world outside his tank, so we allowed him to climb up and sit on the edge of his tank and feel all around it, while we were there to help him. That seemed to satisfy his curiosity. Since then he hasn't wanted to come out again. I tape up the tank very well so he can't go exploring on his own, too.

Nancy
oh, you are way too overprotective, just let him do his own exploring will ya. :P

i know, lol.
Just let him walka round you're house with you and explore more then just the edge of his tank.
You can just let him explore for AT LEAST 1 minute, and then put him back in the water. He needs more space.
That's a good idea.

If any of u have a boring tank that has nothing for you're octopus 2 explore, let it walk out of the tank once in a while and that should take care of it;s stress and boredom mabye?
Just asking.

I wouldn't be inclined to tanke Ollie for a walk no matter how keen he seemed! THe big species seem to cope with being out of water for some time (we've spent some considerable time wrestling our big guy back into a tank ANY tank! But our midgets quite often die if they go exploring (we're talking 10cm or so total length here) they just don't have the stamina!

BTW on the subject of measuring, I think the only relatively accurate measure of a live octi is between the eyes (Steve is this right????) cos they're soooooo stretchy!

J

I'm not taking Ollie out for a stroll, but he isn't that small. You're right, it's hard to measure something that can change sizes, but I estimate his body at about 7 inches long, and the arms about 14 inches, but stretching to 21 inches at times! So he's must be a full grown bimac.

I'm going over to Physiology and Biology and ask your question, Jean - how do you measure a live octopus, and his eyes aren't exactly stationary, either!

Nancy

Nancy, I got this great idea lol, why not put him in a bowl or something and show him a tour around the house, doesn't sound so bad does it. :lol:

I think getting him in the bowl would be the problem!

But since he has come out to sit on the edge of the tank, I guess he has already seen some of the house!

Ollie seems content to stay home now and just have visitors.

Nancy