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Octopus lifespan6/2/2023 ![]() They lose appetite and behave erratically, endangering and damaging themselves. It is not a different life stage, but the precursor of their deaths. Octopuses that reproduce enter into senescence. They live solitary in their dens and only leave for food or to find a mate.Īfter they find a partner, both the male and female exhaust their use and die shortly after. Regardless of the species, the purpose of adult octopuses is to mate. The short-living star-sucking pygmy may become an adult after only three months, while the giant Pacific octopus needs about three years. They are less than one inch long and weigh less than 0.04 ounces.Įach octopus species reaches adulthood at different ages. The shortest living octopus is the star-sucking pygmy octopus with an expected lifespan of six months. The biggest Giant Pacific octopus weighed 200 pounds and measured 20 feet across. As size is a correlating factor, it is also the biggest species. The Giant Pacific octopus is the longest living species, with a lifespan of up to five years. There is a general correlation between the octopus’ size and its life expectancy: the bigger it is, the longer it lives. There are around 300 species of octopus, each with a different life expectancy. Life expectancy varies from species to species, with the longest-living being the giant Pacific octopus and the shortest-living the star-sucker pygmy octopus. Cycle tank for three months before introducing the octopus.Since they evolved to survive in open saltwater, they certain conditions to reach their maximum life expectancy: Ability to squeeze through small spacesĬaptive octopuses live as long as their wild counterparts.Here are some predators that eat octopuses:Īlthough they are preyed upon, octopuses have many ways to defend themselves: They commonly die of natural causes or semelparity, but there are some predators that can shorten their lives. If they do not mate, they reach their maximum life expectancy of six months to five years (depending on species). This means that each individual mates once in their life and die shortly after. Their generally short life expectancy is due to semelparity. These sea creatures live for the same amount of time in the wild as they do in human care. They may look squishy, but octopuses are persistent animals. To maximize a captive octopus’ lifespan, it needs proper lighting, a copper-free environment, and the right water temperature. There is no difference between the lifespan of wild and captive octopuses. Octopuses live for six months to five years. In this article, we answer every question about the lifespan of octopuses, including their life expectancy, determining factors, and details about their life cycle. There is great mystery surrounding the life of octopuses, and as such, they are often depicted as hundred years old beasts roaming the seas.īut are these stories based on real life or are they just works of fiction? And if it’s the latter, how long do octopuses live? They go through four life stages: egg, larva, juvenile, and adult. Their lifespan is determined by whether they mate, the temperature of the water they live in, species, and gender. Plan a visit to see our Giant Pacific Octopuses up close at the Seattle Aquarium and learn more about this wonderful animal from our naturalists during Octopus Talk.Octopuses live for six months to five years both in the wild and in captivity. We also do live food enrichment with their favorite foods, Dungeness crab and live clams. Potato Head – and let them figure out how to retrieve it. We put food inside jars, pill bottles, ice toys – even Mr. For instance, we do food puzzles to help bring out their natural behaviors and keep them mentally stimulated. In general, if they can fit their beaks through something, they can squeeze the rest of their bodies through as well.Įnrichment at the Seattle Aquarium: We’ve created a variety of activities, called enrichments, to help keep our resident octopuses healthy and happy. This lack of bones allows them to fit in and through incredibly tight spaces, but their beaks put limits on that. That’s the equivalent of the average human gaining 2-4 pounds a day!īoneless with a beak? Giant Pacific octopuses have no bones but they do have a beak, much like a parrot’s. Growth rate: Octopuses gain 1-2 % of their body weight every day. At the Aquarium, we keep our octopuses for 6-12 months before releasing them back into Puget Sound to complete their life cycle and reproduce. ![]() Weight: Octopuses average 60 pounds, but they can weigh up to 150 – with an arm span of up to 20 feet across! It’s no wonder they’re the largest species of octopus in the world. What do you call more than one octopus? Although many believe the correct plural form of octopus is octopi, it’s actually octopuses.
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