Abe is absolutely on his way out. He's wandering around the tank looking like he'll die any moment. He's looked like that for three days now, though… It seems like it's taking SO long for him to die, but he doesn't look as awful as some of my dying octopuses have. He's still dancing on the glass even though he won't take food. I wasn't sure before if he was autophagic, but he is. The end of his one arm is all shaggy and white, and 3 others are stumpy.
If you aren't sure if your octo is autophagic or just a casualty of a powerhead, think about WHICH arms are shortened. If I'd been paying attention, I'd have thought about the fact that an abdopus would be exploring with his front arms, not back 4. It's his back arms that are stumpy, eaten off at the tips and now the skin is beginning to peel off.
Abe has a remarkable ability to be in a place in the tank where I can see him but can't get a decent picture to save my life! It's like he knows I'm going for some really good shots of senescence but just won't cooperate. Figures the longest senescence in my tank is the one who is now camera shy!
I know he's dying, and I'm not hoping for more time than he COMFORTABLY has, but I am hoping that he's still feeling ok since he's hanging on so long!