TONMO: The Octopus News Magazine Online

Lone cuttle laying eggs?

SteveMcKay — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:40:36 GMT

Turns out my cuttlefish "Little guy" is actually "Little girl" as she just laid an egg a few minutes ago.

Did a quick search and couldn't find any reference to Cuttle's laying unfertilized eggs. Is this common?

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Hello from Connecticut

Olad Nasus — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:26:23 GMT

hi. i am very glad to be here. i promised myself that when i completed my master's in biology that i would get an octopus for myself. well, i have submitted the final version (hopefully) of my thesis this afternoon. and so now i'm ready to begin the process of keeping my promise. i've been a lurker for a while, and i have some idea of what's in store for me. i'm hoping to start really planning my tank and having it running by the end of june. if all goes well, i can get an octopus for christmas. i have read two books so far: the new marine aquarium by michale s. paletta and cephalapods: octopuses and cuttlefishes for the home aquarium by by colin dunlop and nancy king. i'm sure i'll be posting lots of questions, and i'm looking forward to your advice.
cheers!

Culturing squid

nataliehamill — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:30:22 GMT

Hello, I posted previously explaining I am going to base my dissertation on culturing cephalopods. Well, it's still all going ahead, but there has been a change in plans. I will now also be culturing squid! More specifically Loligo pealei. Never before cultured in captivity. I have been doing research and well there is none! I am hoping you could recommend literature, books, anything that may be relevant.

Heidi - A. Aculeatus

TMoct — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:30:47 GMT

Yesterday I received an Abdopus Aculeatus (I guess?) from LiveAquaria.

There has recently been some discussion about Aquatic Connection, so I should mention that I put in an order with them several weeks ago which they never filled (they didn't have any specimens in stock, so took my request as a special order). After many weeks their divers didn't come up with an octopus so I cancelled my order, which wasn't a problem with them. They were good with communication -- I just think they aren't finding a lot of specimens at this time of year. I haven't received my refund yet, but I did receive an email acknowledgment and a promise of a refund, which I expect shortly.

LiveAquaria had a "medium indo-pacific" octopus available, so that's what I ordered. As with others' experience with LA, the packing and shipping was excellent. No ink in the bag, and a great looking specimen.

The shipping water had pH 7.5 and 1.5 ppm ammonia (my aquarium is pH 8.4), so I drip acclimated for a few hours. Actually I would have done it more quickly but I had a meeting to go to, so I left the drip going while I went out for a couple of hours. This is the drip setup with the sealed bucket:

And the best photos so far, taken before introduction to the tank.

Heidi isn't really shy at all. I set up a critter-keeper within the aquarium, but Heidi was so active and didn't want to hide out in the shell, so I just released her (?) into the main tank. She explored and swam around for several hours before calling it a night.

About the name: After explaining to my 5 year old daughter that the new octopus would probably just hide for the first day and that we might not see it, she decided on "Hidey", which I took the liberty to re-spell.

Heidi seems healthy and vivacious for now -- I'll keep my fingers crossed. There are three small hermit crabs in the tank (so far uneaten), as well as a peppermint shrimp. I have a bunch of fiddlers on the way from Sachs Systems.

I'll try to take some better photos, but it's tough! Heidi is either holed up in the corner behind some rocks or very active exploring and foraging, constantly moving. Also, so far she has only come out after the main lights go out (with the red night-lights on) and the ambient light is pretty low -- it's easy to see her, but hard to photograph. I may have to resort to using a flash (gasp!).

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First Cuttle Tips?!

CuttleMama17 — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:30:30 GMT

I've had a slight cuttlefish obsession since I don't know when and am planning on ordering 3 eggs soon within the next few weeks. I've been doing my fair share of research and I will probably use brine shrimp and ghost shrimp as food. I could really use a couple tips if anybody has any. Thanks!
-Lexi

Source for striped shore crabs and bluebanded hermits

critterguy — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:00:09 GMT

Just figured I'd put this up here is anyone is looking for striped shore crabs or bluebanded hermit crabs that I know of a collector/business that sells them in quantity.

G'day from Gumbaynggir

Dreadom — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:52:12 GMT

G'day folks, I have had marine tanks for the last three years, been a diver my whole life in fact my first memory was snorkeling at Clovelly with my dad just before my 3rd birthday. I love diving and interacting with cephalopods they have always been my favourite sea creature. I have always wanted to keep one, but stuck with fish an dcoral. Then by chance last Friday night walking my dog I met some kids who had just caught a very small Gloomy and were deciding which was the best way to hook it to use as live bait. I suggested a better option was to give it to me and offered them $5. So I came home and turned my basically empty quarantine tank into my new Octopus enclosure.

I had looked at this sight previously but mostly look at MASA, but as of Friday I had a reason to join. Thanks to all those who have posted I have already learnt a great deal.

D

I think this is Octopus filosus?

goofy — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:29:00 GMT

I saw in in the US Virgin Islands.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/6042608...57632814208436

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idjfo7-MD74

Twitch....Octopus ?

corw314 — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:11:03 GMT

So I had put 3 fish in my 70 gallon tank, a green bird wrasse, a dusky jawfish and a green manderin. Jess and I went to PA last weekend, not intending to go to Lancaster but ended up at that pet place. I did not even go to the saltwater section first but was looking at reptiles when my daughter came running up to me excitely saying Mom.....they have one. So next stop is get a number and we leave with this rather good size pissed off octopus. He displayed the curled front two arms at us as he was being abused by the young girl trying to bag him which is a whole nother story where even jess said mom this is painful to watch and i had to step in and help. Anyway Twitch, twitches hence his name. He is living in a temporary pethome in my 70 till I decide which tank needs fish relocated. Hes eating crabs and prawn and has such an attitude and eyespots and curled up about the size of an orange. Note the massive texture!!

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Octopus eat itself when stressed?

kyliecuttlefish — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:23:01 GMT

Hi. Someone shared this image with me. I was just curious about whether this is true?

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