Octapus!

[NDreefer1]

This little fella came in the second package.

The Astrea shell gives a sense of scale...

And lastly here he is wandering the tank

Currently he lives in a snail shell he found. He's even got a little round rock he pulls over the entrance during the day.

I apologize for the bad pics, hes REALLY shy and I had to use a point and shoot digital camera to get him.

Any idea what species he is?

 

[docklink]

No idea what type he is and no need to appologize for the photos.. they're great!!

 

[tonyh67]

Very cool!

 

[Shak]

I dont know the species, but from what I've read they dont get very large. I got one in my first 1/2 of my shipment but he didnt survive. Also, i read another post somewhere that said this is spawning season in Florida for them now so they are rather common find this time of year.

 

[goblinsharkman]

Looks like Bimacles(spelling?) a common tropical atlantic species do some back reference in this forum, itll be there.

 

[hdtran]

You're thinking the "bimaculoides" (or some such latin), which, I believe, is west coast octopus.

The Florida one is more likely an O. joubini or O. mercatoris (both are pygmy species).

Check the tonmo (www.tonmo.com) website for care & feeding.

Hy

 

[alprazo]

Just a tip. They are escape artists and love to climb out of tanks. Atleast mine did. It made it through a small slit near the hinge in an acrylic lid I made. Remember that they can fit through a space the size of their eyes. It would love to see a small fiddler crab or grass shrimp. Great live rock find!

 

[custman]

I got one with my shipment I received today...found him in the bottom of the box. I put him in the tank and he crawled around on the glass before going into hiding. I hope I see him again

 

[cephalopoder]

The species is O.mercatoris. It is a pygmy octopus that is often found in shells . It is a nocturnal species and can be a escape artist at times. They stay very small and will accept small hermits and shrimp for food.
The life span is under a year.
Good Luck.

 

[Smeagol]

That is soooo cool, I hope your able to keep it.

 

[custman]

I saw mine again last night...it has not grown at all...I took a picture but it didn't come out well if you want to see it let me know and I'll figure out how to post it

 

[cephalopoder]

I was able to rear O.mercatoris from egg to adult about two years ago Even as adult, O.mercatoris remains tiny. If you get a adult female between November and January there is a good chance she will be gravid.