New Octo not sure what kind????

[delaharsha]

Hello
I just got my octopus after waiting weeks. It has not had anything to eat. I have tried scallops,shrimps,live crabs, etc....

Also here is a pic. to help id

 

[delaharsha]

one more pic

 

[gholland]

Can you provide some additional info like mantle size, arm length, and origin? Also, it it diurnal or nocturnal?

It looks like it might be one of the dwarf species, but looks a little different than my mercs.

 

[delaharsha]

mantle is about 2" and the arms spread is 7" or so.

This octopus is all over the tank. He will stay in his cave for a bit then rome all over the tank. He has a lot of energy.

Thanx for the help.

 

[Animal Mother]

Don't be surprised if your seahorse winds up being the first meal. Makes for an easy target and a lot of octopuses love to munch on anything that moves. Not always the case, but I would be cautious not knowing what kind you have.

We need information. Like, how long have you had it? What are your water parameters? The restlessness combined with lack of appetite is worrisome. If your water parameters are out of wack then the restlessness could be a sign of discomfort/distress, this would also explain the lack of appetite. Could just be a senescent octopus doing what they do. Old male octopuses can act nutty and refuse food before they die.

 

[Animal Mother]

Good pictures.

The iridescent green spots all over it resemble O. briareus. The mantle/arm proportions seem off though, the arms looking relatively short. I dunno though, could be briareus.

 

[gholland]

So it is out with lights on?

Eyes look wrong and webbing too small to be briareus... but then again, I've never kept one.

 

[Animal Mother]

Knowing what part of the world it came from would help if the store you got it from can tell you that.

 

[delaharsha]

1st pic with lights
2nd pic no lights

how do you tell if it is male or female?

this octo is active thats for sure.

 

[Animal Mother]

Easiest way to tell is enlarged suckers IMO. Suckers on females arms are pretty uniform, don't have much contrast in size whereas males tend to have obviously over-sized suckers on the bulkier part of their arms. Males 3rd right arm is modified, but it's not too easy to tell when they're moving around constantly. Some males seem to carry it curled up most of the time.

From the second picture it looks as if the octopus is maybe missing the end of an arm? (directly right of the eye)

 

[delaharsha]

yeah it has a little damage.
so how do i get this guy to eat. he has 3 snails and 1 ermald crab living in the tank. the damn crab lives in his cave with him!

 

[corw314]

How long has your tank been up and running?

 

[Animal Mother]

You have to answer some questions before we can find a solution.

How long have you had the octopus?
Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate levels?
Salinity?

If the octopus is making contact with crabs and not eating them or at least killing them something is wrong with your octopus.

 

[delaharsha]

had the octopus for 3 days now.
water is perfect.
salt 26ish

so i got some raw shrimp and put it on a stick. he inked and took off.

 

[DWhatley]

Gauging from my recent experience I suspect she may pick a den soon and not come out. That mantle looks awfully full.

Do you see any kind of ring on either side of her mantle close to the head (where the arms join)?

Doe she show a variation of colors or is she almost always the color in the photos?

Does she display a spikey look?

 

[delaharsha]

no ring anywhere.
always brown
no spikes

 

[forever27]

Hmm, to me it looks like it's possibly Octopus macropus. Any thoughts?