Common name: Whitespot octopus
General information
The Atlantic Longarm Octopus, Callistoctopus macropus, is a striking species known for its long, slender arms and distinctive white spots. This nocturnal predator is often admired for its intelligence and ability to change color and texture to blend into its surroundings.
Details
- Recommended minimum tank volume
- 200 liter (53 gallons)
- Salinity
- S.G. 1.023 to 1.026
- Temperature
- 22 to 26 °C (72 to 79 °F)
- Acidity
- pH 7.8 to 8.4
- Average size
- 50 cm (1′8″)
- Care level
- Moderate to easy Needs hiding spots and enrichment
- Diet
- Carnivore Feeds on crustaceans and small fish
- Reefsafe
- No May prey on tank mates
- Aggression
- Semi aggresive Can be territorial
- Captive bred
- No
Taxonomy
- KingdomAnimalsAnimalia
- PhylumMollusksMollusca
- ClassCephalopodsCephalopoda
- OrderOctopusOctopoda
- FamilyOctopusOctopodidae
- GenusDay OctopusCallistoctopus
- SpeciesWhitespot octopusCallistoctopus macropus (Risso, 1826)
- SynonymsOctopus alderii Vérany, 1851Octopus didynamus Rafinesque, 1814Octopus frayedus Rafinesque, 1814Octopus granosus Blainville, 1826Octopus leschenaultii d'Orbigny, 1826Octopus macropodus Sangiovanni, 1829Octopus macropus Risso, 1826Octopus macropus minor SasakiPolypus macropus (Risso, 1826)
Care
Callistoctopus macropus requires a spacious tank with plenty of hiding places and a secure lid, as octopuses are known escape artists. They need a varied diet of live or frozen seafood and should be kept in a species-only tank due to their predatory nature.
Reproduction
Reproduction in captivity is rare, but males use a specialized arm called a hectocotylus to transfer spermatophores to the female. After laying eggs, females tend to them until they hatch, after which the female typically dies, a phenomenon known as semelparity.
Habitat
This species is found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean, from the British Isles to Senegal, including the Azores and Canary Islands. It inhabits rocky and sandy bottoms, often hiding during the day and emerging at night to feed.