yesterday I finally got the call from the aquariumshop. My octo had arrived!

it's supposed to be a vulgaris. although the shop owner wasn't sure.

he's still very tiny, arms are about 15cm long,body is +-2cm in diameter

his tank already contained live foods like small crabs, shrimp, mussels,... But since I had expected him to be a bit bigger, I took some of the largest crabs out, just to be on the safe side. don't want him to lose a limb or worse. :(

when I put him in, he looked around for a short while and then hid under one of the rocks. this morning he's relocated but I can't find out where, too many rocks and shells and stuff to hide :bugout: But I found an empty crabshell that wasn't there last night. maybe he already had a snack :?:

as soon as I have some pics I'll post them

Congratulations on getting your baby octopus! :)

Looking forward to the first photos!

Do you have a name for him yet?

(And please don't forget to update the Octo DB with the latest information on your new arrival. This has been a good week for new octo pets for TONMO members.)

Nancy

well, I'm getting kinda worried now.

Blubberke (that's what I named him) has been in the tank since last tuesday and I haven't seen him since. not even a tip of a tentacle.

allthough, I did feed the mollies, crabs and shrimp today. mollies are all present, but crabs and shrimp, I'm missing a whole load of them. so probably he's alive and thriving.

Yet, I'm thinking of taking out a few rocks to see if I can find him. maybe even keep one or two out and rearrange the furniture. I don't want to leave him without hiding space, but as it is now, it seems he has way to much hidingspaces.

and it's not much fun to own an octo and never see it. so would it be a good idea to change the tank a little?

Actually, it's normal not to see your octo after he arrives, and all the more so with a tank full of food. I'd wait on that rearranging the tank - you want him to settle in. After all, he went through a lot in just getting to your house.

He could also be night active. You might try looking for him with a flashlight covered with red plastic wrap or with a red lens.

I know it's hard not to see your octo at first, since you're so excited about him. I went through the same thing with Ollie. She disappeared for days.
Then I began to see her more. Also, the little ones are VERY GOOD at blending with the rock and you have to learn to spot them.

So hang in there...

Nancy

yeah, dont disturb the tank just yet...

Its possible to accidently trap them in a rock hole too

you guys are probably right.

never been a patient person, but I'll try to hold on a little longer.

:roll:

u should try searching around under the rocks ....about lets say...12am or soshould be a good time. :)

I look under the rocks several times a day, without lifting them, that is.
don't see a thing, at least nothing that looks remotely like an octopus.

only some crabs and shrimp that escaped the massacre (so far)

oh well. patience is a virtue, is what they say

Well, you know he's there from the disappearing food.

He may be right in front of your eyes, well disguised so you can't see him. Believe me, this is possible!

Nancy

Yup, I have to agree with Nancy, I just got one a few days ago and every time I check in on him it usually takes a few to locate him. Most of the time his right out in front. I'm all looking under and behind rocks. Then whoa there he is. Right out front watching me and flashing colors the whole time. It's like the where's Waldo. I mean Where's Octo? LoL.

I call this developing "octopus eyes" . After a while, you'll get much better at spotting him!

Nancy

over the years I've gotten quite good at spotting frogs, lizards, snakes, ...

but apparently octo's demand a far bigger skill! :rainbow:

I'll just have to keep on training!!!! :lol:

The tip of a tentacle is probably what you won't see, since he'll be snuggled up against the rock. Pull up a chair and look very carefully.

Your octi can also hang upside down or sideways on rock, but can also just sit in a hole or on top of the rock, blending in perfectly.

Nancy

Heheh, Everyday my lil guy gets better and better at camoflauging. (typo)

:!: I just got a great idea :!:

I'll organise a "spot-the-octo"-party!!!

Invite all of my friends and have them stare at the tank. whoever spots him first, wins a bottle of champagne!!!

and afterwards we can watch the movie octopussy while eating crabsalad, mussels and shrimp.

:jester: :jester: :jester:

LOL very good idea!

so have you seen him at all?

yeah, for about 10 minutes when I put him in!

after that he started playing hide and seek. apparently he's verrrrry good in the hiding part.

every few days I find a some empty crab shells, so he is feeding.
a few days ago, I even found a musselshell which was pried open. I doubt if a black molly can do that.

This spring I took 6 just hatched briareus from Debbie (dbbga) and put them in my 19 gallon invertebrate tank, which was full of amphipods. I saw the babies for about a week, then I didn't see them anymore and assumed they had all died, which made me very sad.

After about three months, we noticed there was a decline in amphipods. A couple of weeks later, I thought my hermit crab had died....and so on. Then my husband was cleaning the aquarium, scraping off some algae, when out of the liverock popped a little red octopus - actually, a fair sized little 4-month old octopus, mantle over an inch! All that time, for four months, she had been hiding! The tank is in the kitchen, and we look at it many times a day, and with a flashlight at night. And we never saw her, all that time. (Unfortunately, she lived only a couple of weeks after we spotted her).

So you can see how well they can hide. On the other hand, they do become curious and you can lure them out with food. Many smaller octos are very cautious and become friendlier later.

Nancy

So you can see how well they can hide. On the other hand, they do become curious and you can lure them out with food

no I can't see how well they can hide, because they're so good at it :lol:

tried the luring trick. but would you come out for some thawed shrimp and mussels when the fresh stuff is stupid enough to pass right in front of you.

personally, I think that's part of the "problem". he's got food abundant, he probably doesn't even have to come out of his layer to catch something

That may be a route for you to pursue...works with falcons, after all !
greg