Octopus mercatoris
Encyclopedia
Octopus mercatoris is a small octopus
species native to the Atlantic Ocean
. It is mainly nocturnal, hunting by night and staying in a cave during the day. While most octopuses are cannibalistic, O. mercatoris is less cannibalistic than other species, and is sometimes found in small groups under rocks. Though they are common, they are rarely seen. They eat crab
s, shrimp
s, and small fish
. This species has an average lifespan of 8–10 months.
e can be raised successfully by private aquarium
keepers. They are commonly offered in the aquarium trade, usually fully grown, meaning they usually do not survive very long thereafter. Individuals have very different personalities, which means that generalized rules for the species are not necessarily going to pertain to every pet. It is assumed, and quite logically so, that an octopus will eat any companion fish in the aquarium. This may not always be the case; a well-fed and happy octopus may very well allow fellow marine fish to live in peace. This should never be mistaken for anything other than the choice of the octopus. Always assume that other animals in the aquarium are living only at the mercy of the octopus.
Octopus
The octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda. Octopuses have two eyes and four pairs of arms, and like other cephalopods they are bilaterally symmetric. An octopus has a hard beak, with its mouth at the center point of the arms...
species native to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. It is mainly nocturnal, hunting by night and staying in a cave during the day. While most octopuses are cannibalistic, O. mercatoris is less cannibalistic than other species, and is sometimes found in small groups under rocks. Though they are common, they are rarely seen. They eat crab
Crab
True crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" , or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax...
s, shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
s, and small fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
. This species has an average lifespan of 8–10 months.
As a pet
Since O. mercatoris is a large egged species, it can be bred, and its larvaLarva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e can be raised successfully by private aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
keepers. They are commonly offered in the aquarium trade, usually fully grown, meaning they usually do not survive very long thereafter. Individuals have very different personalities, which means that generalized rules for the species are not necessarily going to pertain to every pet. It is assumed, and quite logically so, that an octopus will eat any companion fish in the aquarium. This may not always be the case; a well-fed and happy octopus may very well allow fellow marine fish to live in peace. This should never be mistaken for anything other than the choice of the octopus. Always assume that other animals in the aquarium are living only at the mercy of the octopus.