Is he lonely or bored?

[Kevomac]

Unlike alligator who has a reluctant bimac (sorry about that) mine is very active a very interested in me. I have written on here before about him trying to pull me into the tank. Last night, I went to feed him and he took the food from my hand and then grabbed onto my hand. I allowed him pull my arm into the tank until I ran out of room (he took me across the tank under the center divider). From there he tried to pull in still further, but finally gave up and spent about 10-15 minutes exploring my hand, with a few legs on the glass and the rest all over my hand.

After a while, my arm got tired so I started bringing my arm out slowly. At first he resisted, then he started to walk back with me. When I finally got my fingertips out of the water, he was still holding on. I continued to raise my hand thinking he would let go. The next thing I knew, his eyes were coming up out of the water and he was reaching over the side of the tank with his free legs! I started to lower my hand back down into the water when he spit water at me! I pulled my hand on out a little quicker and he let go, but he continued to try to crawl out of the tank. I let the eggcrate I keep on top of the tank settle back down and he pulled back into the tank in response, but he continued to reach up through the eggcrate as if he was desperately searching for me.

He had dropped his food and a starfish had grabbed it, so I went to get more for him. When I put my hand in the tank, he slowly crept over to me and then quickly climbed onto my hand again. I slowly pulled my hand back and as his body began to rise out of the water, he spit a large amount of water at me! I let the eggcrate close and withdrew into the tank to eat.

I love him being so playful, but should I be worried that he's bored or lonely? I know someone indicated that they had bioballs in the tank for their ceph to play with. Do I need to get some octo-toys, or just keep playing with him periodically?

 

[Brimarbio]

I'm no expert but I'd say it sounds as if he's getting a little bored, why not give him some toys and things to play with. Another way you can keep him occupied is to give him his food in creative ways: Inside of a coke bottle or maybe a live crab for him to hunt down... If you've got the time I suppose you could play with him too, but these other methods are always less stressful to them.
Good luck,
Brian

 

[Rudiger]

Im wondering if rearanging the rocks might interest the octopus? Maybe leave their favorite cave alone so they dont get stressed with too much change, but it would certainly give the octopus new areas to explore, make new caves, rotate rocks so that new faces are showing, etc. Or would all this change stress the octopus?

 

[Rudiger]

but for toys just throw in some interesting shells. Also try a heavy shell on a string. I move the shell around the tank and the octopus chases it around if he is feeling playful. Then let it sit on the bottom of the tank and the octopus can practice hunting, mine loves to sneak up and pounce on shells or small rocks.