Our liverock stowaway - Octopus

[zukharla]

This tiny little fella was on a piece of live rock and is now in an escape proof container, submerged in the refugium for flow and keeping fresh water going through it. He is TINY! Very active. Spent ages crawling around the tank, exploring, and is now curled up in a piece of live rock. We are currently doing some research on looking after octos.

[SushiGirl]

Very cool hitchhiker! Tonmo.com is a great ceph resource.

[prunfarm]

Wow, lucky you! Looks like it doesn't mind posing for the camera either.

[zukharla]

Thanks guys. Anyone know what kind it is or impossible to tell from the pics?

[SushiGirl]

Someone on tonmo.com may be able to ID it. Several experts over there.

[NarnyTheGreat]

Where did you get the rock from? If it came from Florida its most likely a merc other place it just depends. People on tonmo are wonderful about trying to help out.

Though if it is a merc, it should hide, and soon... they are strictly nocturnal and dont like the light at all. Octopuses that dont hide with in the first 24 hours dont normally make it. For the first 3 weeks we tend to hold our breathe because its such a fragile time for them. Give him a good sized piece of live rock to hide in and give him a few days.

Good luck. Hes a cutie.

[Big_Al]

Man! I never get the cool hitchhikers.

[zukharla]

I'm in australia

[NarnyTheGreat]

Originally Posted by zukharla

I'm in australia

I should have figured that as octopuses are out of season here in the states for the most part.

I looked a little and there are a few options. Where did the rock come from? Did you order it from say, a place that would get it from south east asia? Or was this local harvest? If it was local there then it could be a few different choices...

Octopus aegina (Baby Octopus) though probably not because the webbing isnt really obvious.
Octopus tetricus (Sydney Octopus) Maybe-but nocturnal.
Octopus australia (Southern Octopus) not a blue ring from the looks of it.
Octopus maorum (Maori Octopus)
Octopus pallidus (Pale Octopus) have you seen if it has a number of sharp spikes of skin over the body which can be raised, along with a regular patchment of small raised oval patches over their entire body and arms? If you have seen anything like this then you could assume its the pale octopus.
Octopus graptus (Scribbled Night Octopus) couldnt find any info quickly on this guy, sorry.

If it came from South East Asia, then I could guess Abdophus spp. They are the more common species to come from that area.

How long have you had it and what are you feeding it? Also, it really needs to have some live rock with it as it will die from stress if you dont allow it to hide.

I wish I could get a hitch hiker like that.

[chrisv]

Originally Posted by NarnyTheGreat

Octopus maorum (Maori Octopus)

How long have you had it and what are you feeding it? Also, it really needs to have some live rock with it as it will die from stress if you dont allow it to hide.

I wish I could get a hitch hiker like that.

Hmm If it tries to eat any people, it may be a Maori octopus. That would solve both the ID and food questions...

jk

Awesome find! good luck! Keeping octos is entertaining and rewarding!

[zukharla]

Thanks for all the info. I'll do some research on those species and see what I can find.

The tank does have live rock, you just cant see it in those pics. He's curled up in one of the pieces at the moment. I have put a small snail in there and also some thawed shrimp which he ate overnight.

[Gonodactylus]

It looks to me like Octopus bocki or something similar.

Roy

[allendavant]

Wow! That is amazing! I wish I could get a hitchhiker like that! How big is it?

[on3ofak1nd]

Any update on this? How's the Octo doin?

[Baboo11]

Way cool! Hopefully you can keep him happy & healthy!

[mwilliams62]

OMG that is so way cool.

[on3ofak1nd]

It's been a few months and the OP hasnt updated so I am fearing the worst.

[mwilliams62]

probably so but hoping for the best though.