Octopuses in Captivity

[DaLilFishie]

I think this is one of those groups where a lot of species have been kept short term for research or imported for the aquarium trade but never gone on public display and/or maintained long term. For example I know that the mimic octopus ( Thaumoctopus mimicus) has been kept in captivity and has even been seen in UK aquatic stores (but not by me!) but I don't know whether any have ever gone on display in a public aquarium

Mimic Octopus is missing from the list. Not sure if any zoos have them but they are around in the private trade.

Yeah, I know Mimic Octopus are in the private trade, but this list is for public aquariums/zoos (I should have clarified that).

 

[DaLilFishie]

I'd love to see a big Dumbo Octopus in an aquarium!

Unfortunately no Dumbos have been kept, but two species of Flapjack Octopus, which are similar, have been kept, Opisthoteuthis depressa and Opisthoteuthis adorabilis. depressa is kept at a handful of Japanese aquaria (can't recall which specifically which ones), and adorabilis was previously kept at Monterey Bay Aquarium. They have hinted at the possibility of getting the species back for their upcoming deep sea exhibit, so hopefully they'll make a return.

 

[DaLilFishie]

I know a little about the cuttlefishes. Are squid and octopus species also bred regularly? If so, do you know which species?

Octopuses are bred very rarely, if at all. Sometimes eggs will be laid and hatch but the larvae die very quickly. The Japanese version of the Churaumi Fish Encyclopedia (basically a stock list for the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium) mentions that they have had success with getting a species of deep sea octopus to lay eggs, but the larvae died soon after hatching. I do believe MBA breeds their Bigfin Reef Squid, and I did see Bigfin Reef Squid eggs at the bottom of the Sunfish tank at Osaka Aquarium (highly likely the larvae died though).