eggs of NZ octopus (Pinnoctopus cordiformis)

photo taken 12 June 2010, eggs laid 11 June 2010. Most of the eggs were laid on the rock wall of the tank, but a few like these were on the glass front. Octopuses only reproduce once in their lifetime, both male and female dying soon after breeding. The baby octopuses resulting from these eggs will be released back into the ocean.

I bet that this attracts a HUGE amount of attention from visitors.Aquaria, invertebrate exhibits, insect houses etc are becoming amazingly popular - last weekend the magazine supplement to the Financial Times featured an article on butterfly houses, which are beginning to become popular among the wealthy & there are even specialist companies making good money on supplies.The smaller scale of natural history has never been so popular since Victorian times, and zoos should certainly bear this in mind when planning ahead.Fortunately,it is possible to design great exhibits for invertebrates on a reduced budget & with very little running costs.A win-win situation for zoos and visitors.