Husbandry Manual for BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS Hapalochlaena lunulata (Mollusca: Octopodidae) Date By From Version 2005 Leanne Hayter Ultimo TAFE v 1 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 1 PREFACE ................................................................................................................................ 5 2 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 CLASSIFICATION .............................................................................................................................. 8 2.2 GENERAL FEATURES ....................................................................................................................... 8 2.3 HISTORY IN CAPTIVITY ..................................................................................................................... 9 2.4 EDUCATION ..................................................................................................................................... 9 2.5 CONSERVATION & RESEARCH ........................................................................................................ 10 3 TAXONOMY ............................................................................................................................12 3.1 NOMENCLATURE ........................................................................................................................... 12 3.2 OTHER SPECIES ............................................................................................................................ 12 3.3 RECENT SYNONYMS ...................................................................................................................... 12 3.4 OTHER COMMON NAMES ............................................................................................................... 12 4 NATURAL HISTORY ..............................................................................................................13 4.1 BIOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................... 13 4.1.1 Senses .................................................................................................................................................... 13 4.2 MANTLE ........................................................................................................................................ 13 4.3 THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM........................................................................................................... 14 4.4 HEART .......................................................................................................................................... 14 4.4.1 Blood ....................................................................................................................................................... 14 4.4.2 Gills ......................................................................................................................................................... 15 4.4.3 Muscles ................................................................................................................................................... 15 4.5 BRAIN ........................................................................................................................................... 16 4.6 EYES ............................................................................................................................................ 16 4.7 ARMS ........................................................................................................................................... 17 4.8 INK ............................................................................................................................................... 17 4.9 BEAK ............................................................................................................................................ 18 4.10 MORPHOMETRICS ......................................................................................................................... 18 4.10.1 Mass and Basic Body Measurements ................................................................................................ 18 4.10.2 Sexual Dimorphism ............................................................................................................................ 19 4.10.3 Distinguishing Features...................................................................................................................... 19 4.11 DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT ........................................................................................................... 20 4.12 CONSERVATION STATUS ................................................................................................................ 21 4.13 DIET IN THE WILD .......................................................................................................................... 21 4.14 LONGEVITY ................................................................................................................................... 21 4.14.1 In the Wild .......................................................................................................................................... 22 4.14.2 In Captivity ......................................................................................................................................... 22 4.14.3 Techniques Used to Determine Age in Adults ................................................................................... 22 4.15 ADAPTATIONS ............................................................................................................................... 23 4.15.1 Defence .............................................................................................................................................. 23 PRIMARY - CAMOUFLAGE ................................................................................................................................................. 23 SECONDARY - INKING ........................................................................................................................................................ 23 4.15.2 Camouflage ........................................................................................................................................ 24 4.15.3 Deimatic behaviour ............................................................................................................................ 24 4.15.4 Venomous bite ................................................................................................................................... 24 TECHNICAL EXPLANATION ............................................................................................................................................... 24 5 HOUSING REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................26 5.1 EXHIBIT/ENCLOSURE DESIGN ........................................................................................................ 26 5.2 HOLDING AREA DESIGN ................................................................................................................. 26 5.3 SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................... 26 5.4 POSITION OF ENCLOSURES ............................................................................................................ 26 5.5 TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................... 26 5.6 WATER REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................ 26 5.7 SUBSTRATE .................................................................................................................................. 27 5.8 ENCLOSURE FURNISHINGS ............................................................................................................ 27 6 GENERAL HUSBANDRY ........................................................................................................28 6.1 HYGIENE AND CLEANING ............................................................................................................... 28 6.1.1 Daily ........................................................................................................................................................ 28 6.1.2 Weekly/Fortnightly/Monthly ..................................................................................................................... 28 6.1.3 General Information ................................................................................................................................ 28 6.2 RECORD KEEPING ......................................................................................................................... 28 6.3 METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION ........................................................................................................ 28 6.4 ROUTINE DATA COLLECTION .......................................................................................................... 28 7 FEEDING REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................29 7.1 CAPTIVE DIET ..............................................................................................................................