California Two-Spot Octopus
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 Immature Octopus bimaculoides
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| Octopus bimaculoides Pickford & McConnaughey, 1949 |
The California Two-spot Octopus (Octopus bimaculoides), also known as "Bimac Octopus", is an octopus species that lives off the coast of California. One can identify the species by the circular blue eyespots on each side of its head. Due to their friendly temperament and relative hardiness, they are considered by most experts to make the best pet octopus. Bimacs usually live to be about two years old. They are closely related to Verrill's Two-spot Octopus (Octopus bimaculatus).
[edit] As Pets
Bimac octopuses do best in a 190+ liter tank. Tank sizes lower than 150 liters will most likely result in an unhappy octopus and premature death. Keeping a captive octopus is very difficult and is only for expert aquarists. They require premium water quality, so preparing tank water should take approximately three months to build up a proper nitrate waste cycle. Mixing an octopus with any other fish, corals, or cephalopods could result in death of any of the animals listed. They will eat through almost anything in the tank. Nitrates seem to be tolerated to 50 - 100ppm with no apparent ill effects. Copper is lethal and should be tested for before the octopus is added to an aquarium. Copper medications will be deadly to invertebrates. Because octopuses produce an enormous amount of waste, oversized filters and protein skimmers are often used.
Live rock should be used as extra filtration and for a den for the octopus. It is recommended that .12 kg of live rock be used for each liter of water. Some people think that by using less live rock they will be able to see their octopus more often. More live rock, however, makes the octopus more comfortable and more likely to act as it would in the wild. Seashells should also be put in to help create its den. The best substrate to use is a fine, well washed silver sand. Coral sand and similar substrates are too coarse for an octopus’s sensitive skin and may damage it as it attempts to dig. The light should be kept on for 10-12 hours per day. In order for the octopus to be clearly visible when it is active, the light should be kept on while at home.
An octopus should be fed mostly crustaceans. Feeder fish are not good for it. Dead crabs are a good start for a baby octopus. When the octopus gets a little older, start to feed it live crabs.
Various toys can be put in the tank to keep the octopus entertained. Large lego blocks, action figures, plastic toys with lights, ping-pong balls, or other items that couldn't be swallowed would be good to put in.
Bimacs can be ordered through most aquarium shops, but this is usually very hit-or-miss depending on if their aquatic supplier managed to capture any. Even then, the purchaser can not be sure of the age, and it may only live for a few months. The purchaser should try to get a small octopus so they can be more sure that it will live longer.
