Ossie was out of her den this morning when we woke up. I looked inside her den and was amazed that I could see through it. Of course, dense me thought she had already died, and was lying flat inside her rock and that was why we could peer into it.

W. came over and immediately spotted her on the other side of the tank.

She's pale and looks shrunken. Her tentacles are all curled at the ends, but she's breathing deeply and looks well. She was just out and about, I guess for one of her last strolls.

I almost called in sick to work, to stay and photograph and just be with her, but then I remembered my boss was coming in today. :sad:

I know the end is near. I just hope I'm home to be with her when she dies.

:(

:cry:

So sad....

Nancy

My thoughts are with you.
:cry:

:sad: You have done an incredible job of doing whatever it takes to make sure that she has a happy home and loving family...

Not good...

She couldn't have better friends, 'though.

So sorry to hear that your friend is dying... :cry: Thanks for sharing her with us.

Jennifer

Has to be the hardest part. Thoughts are with you!

Carol

Well, Ossie died this afternoon. When W. came home, she was still hanging out under the pump but had shrunk to half her size. Two hours later, W. found Ossie upside down and already a bristle worm was starting in on her.

She called me and we took Ossie out to the Bay.

We both agree that Ossie was the most amazing and fantabulous pet we've ever owned and that we were blessed both by her and this community.

Many thanks goes out to all of you who helped us out with being newbies at raising octopuses. Nancy and Cuttlegirl, a special thanks to you two for your encouragements and your advice. And Tony, many many thanks for hosting this site and our photos/film.

I look forward to meeting some of you in person in September for the mini-tonmocon here in the Bay Area.

I am so very sorry for your loss. You've learned so much, and I know you'll have a great relationship with another octopus sometime in the future.:angelpus: RIP Ossie

I'm so glad you were able to return her to the ocean.

:angelpus: Peace be with you Ossie! :angelpus:

RIP Ossie:angelpus:

Nancy

:(

So sorry for your loss, but we wanted to say thank you for all the updates and pix -- your blessings with Ossie became our blessings and we hope that you will continue to provide a good home for a future octo. Hang in!

sorry for your loss... :(


chris

Thanks all for your condolences. It looks like we might be able to fix our place within the next month *fingers crossed* which means that we'll be able to set up the 75 gallon then.

Reading that aculeatus has been available in the bay area has evoked feelings of we gotta get this done now. So hopefully within 4 months we'll be on the lookout for a new octopus. Until then, I'll have to live vicariously through all you folk who are scoring some.

Good luck on the rehab process. Hope everything goes well and proceeds rapidly.

Thanks all for your condolences. It looks like we might be able to fix our place within the next month *fingers crossed* which means that we'll be able to set up the 75 gallon then.

I'm very impressed with the amount of knowledge you two have acquired over the last few months. With the 75 in the near future have you given any thought to modifications you might make for octo-proofing?

Dan

im so sry to hear what has happened.... i cant imagine what it will be like when cujo leaves..... i dont even want to think about it.... :angelpus:

Sorry about your loss...

My biggest loss was when an old octo named Mr. Stripe passed away. He was definetly the most attached I got with an octo..

Damien, my old officinalis (Big Cuttle) was very difficult to go through as well..

I've often thought that our sadness when our octos pass away is significant - it shows how different keeping them is from keeping a reef aquarium or fresh water tank.

How we bury them or put them in the sea is signifcant, too. Can you imagine someone planting a memorial tree over a Tang fish? Or carrying their damsel back to the ocean where it's sadly returned to the sea?

Nancy

Dan, we bought a lid for the 75 and tested it out. Nice snug fit so all we have to do is tape down the top and cut out holes for the skimmer and filter and any other holes we might need. We hope to keep with the smaller octos since we had such a great experience with Ossie.

thanks, Paradox & 91lxstang

Nancy, I was astounded at the depth of emotion I felt at Ossie's death. I've felt that for furry pets before, but never for any non-mammals. I can't wait to experience our next octopus.

S