I hear that Monterey Bay Aquarium's flapjack octopus and vampire squid are no longer on display. Is this true? If it is, what happened to them? Did they die?
What happened to Monterey's deep sea cephalopods?
- Thread starter DaLilFishie
- Start date
I've never heard anything about vampire squids but I can confirm at one point MBA held an undescribed species of flapjack octopus as I saw them with my own eyes (I even took a video of them but later deleted it due to poor quality. I regret doing so to this day.) I don't know what happened to them other than the fact that where their exhibit was now sits an interactive computer game.
Oh that's sad. I really wanted to see the vampire squid one day. Hopefully they might get another one.
I find that unlikely but I suppose anything's possible at MBA. And in case you're wondering the undescribed flapjack octopus (which still has yet to be described to my understanding) was informally referred to as Opisthoteuthis "adorabilis". Regardless MBA is an amazing aquarium and if you ever make it to America it's definitely worth a visit.
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I guess you're right. It appears MBA did at one point exhibit vampire squid. It must of died quickly though as I believe I visited soon after Tentecles opened.
- Vampire squid arrives at Monterey Bay Aquarium
- [URL="https://www.mbari.org/dream-team-of-scientists-and-aquarists-gives-public-first-view-of-a-live-vampire-squid-and-other-deep-sea-cephalopods/"]Dream team of scientists and aquarists gives public first view of a live vampire squid and other deep-sea cephalopods[/URL]
The Tentacles exhibition was only temporary, from 2014 to 2016.
Vampire Squids have long lifespans relative to most other cephalopods, thought to be between three and eight years in the adult stage, but even so the one they had would be dead by now anyway given that they caught it as an adult in 2014 or before.
The Tentacles exhibit is still intact to my knowledge. It is listed on the aquarium website as a current exhibit as of September 2020, although the aquarium has been closed indefinitely since March due to the pandemic. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/visit/exhibits/tentacles
The vampire squid was exhibited for a very short time. Weeks at most, if not days. I waited a month to go up there and it was long gone. I regret not making the 6 hour drive up there the minute I knew that it was on exhibit.
There have been several flapjack octopi on exhibit over Tentacles existence, but all on a short term, and none recently to my knowledge.
The vampire squid was exhibited for a very short time. Weeks at most, if not days. I waited a month to go up there and it was long gone. I regret not making the 6 hour drive up there the minute I knew that it was on exhibit.
There have been several flapjack octopi on exhibit over Tentacles existence, but all on a short term, and none recently to my knowledge.
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Yeah MBA temporary exhibits seem to last quite awhile. Which makes sense since they're usually top notch quality IMO.
I'm sorry you weren't able to see the vampire. Did you at least see the flapjack?. Also I didn't know flapjacks have been exhibited multiple times, I thought it was a one and done deal. Interesting. Additionally, do you know if they exhibited different flapjack species or was it always "adorabilis"?
I never had a chance to see the flapjack, and I'm not sure what species they exhibited.
I know it's unlikely but I can dream
Oh that would be amazing! I would love for deep-sea animals to be more widespread.
Yes, it is indeed still intact. It was there but temporarily closed when I visited in March 2019. Still listed on the website as well, as @DavidBrown added. Many of the coolest and unusual cephalopods are long gone however, which is unfortunate.
Echoing some of the musings on the Tentacles exhibit, it's fantastic and was still open as of November 2019 when I visited. The variety of species was impressive, and it was packed to the point that I actually had to skip 1 or 2 exhibits while moving with the throng of people 
Hopefully MBA manages to bring back vampire squid and flapjack octopus, they excel at displaying all sorts of fascinating smaller species in engaging ways and I'm sure those were no exception.
Hopefully MBA manages to bring back vampire squid and flapjack octopus, they excel at displaying all sorts of fascinating smaller species in engaging ways and I'm sure those were no exception.
I’m hearing around of a few aquariums in Japan successfully keeping Flapjack octopuses, so hopefully we’ll see them make a comeback to American aquariums 
I’m hearing around of a few aquariums in Japan successfully keeping Flapjack octopuses, so hopefully we’ll see them make a comeback to American aquariums
I'd think it's certainly possible, especially by MBA.
Speaking of Monterey and rare cephalopods, they uploaded a video on Youtube back in 2014 which claims they had a cock-eyed squid on display, and another, also from 2014, claiming they had a midwater octopus on display.
ocellated_eelpout
Well-Known Member
As far as I know, Mba has kept 6 deep sea cephalopod species:
Japetella Octopus (Japetella sp.)
Cock-Eyed Squid (Histioteuthis Heteropsis)
Flapjack octopus (Opistoteuthis Californiana/Adorabilis)
Vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis Infernalis)
Octopus squid (Octopoteuthis Deletron)
Swordtail Squid (Chiroteuthis Calyx)
Japetella Octopus (Japetella sp.)
Cock-Eyed Squid (Histioteuthis Heteropsis)
Flapjack octopus (Opistoteuthis Californiana/Adorabilis)
Vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis Infernalis)
Octopus squid (Octopoteuthis Deletron)
Swordtail Squid (Chiroteuthis Calyx)