Happy new year from rcl and OCTOROK!
A lot has gone on since then, but the major points of interest are --
The domino damsel got huge (probably 2.5" at least, and FAT) and harassed the 4 stripe damsel and OCTOROK quite a bit. I was about to sell the domino damsel when I saw that OCTOROK had 'taken a bite out of crime' so to speak! The fish was Quite Dead with a giant piece missing. OCTOROK was not very hungry afterwards. No visible marks on him, so I assume he escaped unscathed.
The chocolate chip starfish is still good. OCTOROK puts his arms around him sometimes but they are friends
I had a rock with loads of mushrooms on it in my reef tank, which were getting improper lighting and were DYING so I threw them in with OCTOROK, despite warnings. They are now flourishing in the dimmer flourescent light, and OCTOROK is nice to them. Everyone said they will be covered up by the octopus, but nothing could cover them up more than my jawfish was!!!!!
IMPORTANT NOTE --- after putting the mushroom rock in OCTOROK's tank I noticed an aiptaisia pest anenome on it, rather small. I was VERY worried that OCTOROK was going to be hurt by this, but before I could even do anything he was all over the rock -- and all over the anenome!! Since, he has touched it many times, and has never indicated that it hurts him. I know little to nothing about the stinging effects of these anenomes, and I am not one to gamble with my octopus's safety, so I am getting some 'joe's juice' from a coworker to kill this pest before something serious does happen.. but I just found this interesting because it was contradictory of things I had heard before
Today I have fed OCTOROK a gigantic electric blue hermit crab (placed it in his tank). He has 'attacked' it a few times, but has not killed it. I have a feeling that when the lights go out, it may be the end for the crab -- ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
As I have been saying in another thread, a FUTURE PLAN for OCTOROK is to introduce the saltwater shrimp from shrimpstuff.com.. I am thinking this will awake his natural instincts a bit more and give him a bit more natural life. Another future plan is to add some more mushrooms! These really brighten up the tank, and the 12 hour'ish photo-period I give them does not bother my 8 legged friend at all. He is out a lot of the time with it on or off!
Bye for now from rcl and OCTOROK