Octopus Eggs

[celtics464]

I bought an octopus a couple months ago. It went straight into hiding and just died on me today. However, when I was taking it out of the tank I saw that it had left a bunch of eggs attached inside the rock it was hiding in. What i am wondering is if there is any way for me to keep them alive inside my tank, or will my fish eat them most likely? I am thinking of covering the hole so that no fish can get to the eggs. Will this help? I may make a seperate tank for them once they hatch, if I can find them. But for now they are going to have to stay in the big tank. What are my chances of any of them surviving? Thanks

 

[Chckrbrd Wrasse]

I am sorry to hear about your octopus. I might be looking at the same situation soon. Mine has been tending eggs now for 2 weeks. I am starting to see 2 black dots appear on them. Looks as they could be eyes. To your question I am not sure except as I watch mine, she seems to roll the eggs constantly or more lift them as they are attached to the back side of the tank. I have got her to eat a little but she has not left her eggs alone since they have appeared. I am not sure if this motion is needed only that she does it all the time. So I am thinking it is. Here was an article I found at http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Octopodidae
that may give you an idea to what you would have to do to replace what the mother would be doing to develop them. Good luck with them.

 

[Opcn]

Do you have fish that would eat them? What fish do you have?

Also, octos eat lots of fish in the wild and in tanks

 

[celtics464]

Thanks for the help. i only had a few damsels in the tank and the octo neevr tried to eat them. unfortuntley the eggs have all dissappeared. I think I have a manti shrimp in the tank and it knocked the shell i was using as a guard down and ate them all over night. I hate mantis shrimp. this is like the 3rd one i have found in my tank over the past year. I do not know where they are coming from. i thought i got them all before. oh well. good luck to you with your eggs though.

 

[Opcn]

there is a mantis shrimp forum here, figure out how to trap him and get him out of there, and better luck in the future.