what to feed mimic octopus

Diet & Prey Mimic Octopuses

are carnivorous, found in shallow, murky waters and therefore, their diet mainly consists of small fish and crustaceans. This is mainly because these are the two animals that are commonly found in the areas the mimic octopus survives in.

Full Answer

What do mimic octopuses eat?

Mimic Octopuses are carnivorous, found in shallow, murky waters and therefore, their diet mainly consists of small fish and crustaceans. This is mainly because these are the two animals that are commonly found in the areas the mimic octopus survives in.

How many animals can the mimic octopus imitate?

It is not known how many animals the mimic octopus can imitate, but it is known that most of the animals that it mimics are poisonous. Some of the more common animals the mimic octopus imitates are the following: Lion fish – a venomous fish with brown and white stripes, and spines that trail behind it on all sides.

How do octopuses get their food?

Sometimes they will also feed upon smaller species of octopuses that are around them when they can’t find enough other food sources for survival. They have a very strong and powerful beak on their mouths that they use to get prey and to rip them apart. They will swallow chunks of food whole.

What kind of fish can I breed my octopus with?

Mimic Octopus can be bred with any type of fish, and the babies are born white with gray stripes instead of white with black stripes. Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.

How do you take care of a mimic octopus?

Octopuses need some live food for enrichment and nutrition, but most also accept frozen shrimp and a few other foods. The staple for octopus diets is often thawed frozen shrimp, supplemented with live crabs. Octopus-keepers living along the coast have an advantage because they have easier access to foods.

What is the lifespan of a mimic octopus?

The larvae drift as plankton until they mature, when they sink and begin life on the ocean floor. The mimic is said to live for only around 9 months, which must feel like a maternity!

What can the mimic octopus turn into?

Like other mimics, the octopus changes its coloring to disguise itself. More unusually, it can also contort its body to take on the appearance and behavior of several animals, including the lionfish, jellyfish, sea snake, a shrimp, a crab, and others.

Does the mimic octopus eat meat?

Octopuses are carnivores, which means they eat meat. Meals can include clams, shrimp, lobsters, fish, sharks and even birds.

Are mimic octopus endangered?

Concern has been raised over the possible endangered status of Thaumoctopus mimicus. As always, there is a delicate balance between our concern about harvesting such animals from the wild and our desire to perfect husbandry protocols to enable captive animals to thrive and reproduce.

How many brains does a mimic octopus have?

The mimic octopus has nine brains. Each of its arms has a mini-brain to control it. It also has three hearts and blue blood.

How many babies do mimic octopus have?

The Mimic Octopuses reproduce by mating. The male dies soon after mating, and the female then lays eggs close to the ocean floor. Once done, the female dies as well. There are around 80 eggs laid, though very few actually survive because they are born without any parental support, unlike many other marine species.

What are some fun facts about the mimic octopus?

The mimic octopus is one of the superstars of Indonesia's Lembeh Strait. What's Behind Its Name: It's pretty obvious — to trick predators, they mimic the behavior of other marine animals, such as sea snakes, lionfish, eels, stingrays and jellyfish. Size: They are rather small, growing to an average length of 2 feet.

What is the habitat of a mimic octopus?

The mimic octopus was discovered in 1998 off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. They live on the shallow sandy bottoms near river mouths, which are extremely exposed habitats with lots of predators.

Can I buy a mimic octopus?

0:083:20Mimic Octopus facts: who will they mimic next? | Animal Fact FilesYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUsually found in shallow sandy. Or muddy habitats. It may live near coral reefs. And it will alsoMoreUsually found in shallow sandy. Or muddy habitats. It may live near coral reefs. And it will also make its way into estuaries. In size the mimic octopus averages between 1 and 2 feet in length.

Do octopuses eat plants?

These organisms are carnivorous meaning they primarily eat meat. Octopuses diet constitutes of birds, shrimp, lobsters, sharks, clam, and fish.

How many babies do mimic octopus have?

The Mimic Octopuses reproduce by mating. The male dies soon after mating, and the female then lays eggs close to the ocean floor. Once done, the female dies as well. There are around 80 eggs laid, though very few actually survive because they are born without any parental support, unlike many other marine species.

Why does an octopus have 9 brains?

According to the Biogeo Planet, the octopus is considered the most intelligent creature because it has 9 brains. But how does an octopus utilises 9 brains? Actually, each of its eight brains helps in controlling the arm movements. And, the centre one for other activities.

How did the mimic octopus get its name?

Its ability to change shape is the reason it was named the "mimic" octopus, which is its main defense besides camouflage.

Where do mimic octopuses live?

The mimic octopus was discovered in 1998 off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. They live on the shallow sandy bottoms near river mouths, which are extremely exposed habitats with lots of predators.

Protection When Feeding

Like other mimics, the octopus changes its coloring to disguise itself. More unusually, it can also contort its body to take on the appearance and behavior of several animals, including the lionfish, jellyfish, sea snake, a shrimp, a crab, and others.

Reproduction

During mating, the males hold onto the females and use their mating arm, called a hectocotylus, to insert a sperm sac, called a spermatophore, into the main body, or the mantle, of the female.

Etymology

The mimic octopus' generic name is derived from Greek , meaning "miracle" or "marvel" and ὀκτώπους, a compound form of "eight" and "foot". Its specific name mimicus alludes to its ability to disguise itself as another animal.

Appearance

The mimic octopus is a smaller octopus, growing to a total length of about 60 cm (2 ft), including arms, with a diameter approximately that of a pencil at their widest. Small horns protrude from each eye.

Habitat and range

The mimic octopus was first discovered off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia in 1998 on the bottom of a muddy river mouth. It has since been found to inhabit the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Red Sea in the west to New Caledonia in the east, and Gulf of Thailand and the Philippines in the north to the Great Barrier Reef in south.

Behavior

The mimic octopus uses a jet of water through its funnel to glide over the sand while searching for prey, typically small fish, crabs, and worms. It prefers river mouths and estuaries, as opposed to reefs which are usually preferred as shelter by other types of octopus.

Feeding

The mimic octopus can either be classified as a hunter or a forager. It is believed to be a hunter because scientists have observed and recorded the octopus having the ability to stalk prey and hunt down small fish and catch them. More often, however, the mimic octopus can be seen foraging for food.

Excitement in the Fishroom

Concern has been raised over the possible endangered status of Thaumoctopus mimicus. As always, there is a delicate balance between our concern about harvesting such animals from the wild and our desire to perfect husbandry protocols to enable captive animals to thrive and reproduce.

A Special Find

An amazing creature awaited me in that fishroom. Chocolate brown colorations with white stripes, horns above the eyes, and long legs undulating with every careful-yet-cautious movement. As I bent over to catch a closer glimpse of the organism, he seemed just as determined to observe me as I was to observe him.

Getting Acquainted

The next morning I ran downstairs to check on my new friend. I slowly entered the room to avoid detection and saw him in the middle of the tank pacing back and forth. The instant he noticed me he began flashing some colors through his body and then quickly sought refuge in a cave in the rocks.

Missing!

The next morning he was nowhere to be seen. The tank was not large, but I still could not see any sign of him at all. I headed to the office worried that I might have killed him with my massive water change the day before. As soon as I returned from the office I checked the tank again…still no sign of my octopus.

Leaving Him Alone

Over the next few days, I brought small pieces of soft coral and polyps home and transformed his tank into a mini-reef. He seemed to settle in and become comfortable with his living arrangements. He continued to eat three or four crabs a day. He would come out when he saw me approaching and seemed as excited to see me as I was to see him.

Starting Again

After a few days I decided to put some other fish into my tank so that guests at my upcoming Halloween party would not be asking “what’s in the tank?” I took home a couple of small marginalis butterflies, a couple of Buddha cardinals, and a small dragon wrasse. I acclimated each one and then let them out to venture into the aquarium.

Hatchlings!

Then one night I walked into the kitchen and noticed a swarm of white octopuses in my aquarium. There were hundreds of them. They were mostly swarming near the surface of the water toward the light. There at the bottom of the tank lay their mother. She had died the same night they hatched. It is amazing how precise nature can sometimes be.

A Primer on Mimicry

means that the animal changes its coloration and/or behavior to match that of another species, distasteful to predators.

Fish or Fishes, Octopus or Octopuses?

Some debate has transpired over the proper plural name for more than one octopus. In roughly descending order of common use, there are: octopuses, octopus, octopi, and octopodes (or octopods). Octopuses is commonly given as the most proper plural name, as derived from a Latinized Greek word.

Captive Care

Despite warnings by some pundits, the captive care of the mimic octopus is rather straightforward. They are best kept in an aquarium by themselves, with only peaceful, sedentary invertebrates such as sea stars or soft corals as tankmates.

A Case Study of one Captive Mimic Octopus

This animal was collected in Indonesia in early December, 2006 and imported by a wholesale marine aquarium firm in Los Angeles. It was purchased sight-unseen (not recommended) and shipped via overnight courier and placed into a 40-gallon aquarium.

Reproduction

A female mimic octopus laid eggs after being in captivity for four months. Presumably, the eggs were not fertile as the octopus was acquired as a juvenile, and it is unlikely that mating had occurred prior to the animal’s capture.