Observations on Octopus joubini: Some aspects of reproductive biology and growth

Observations were made on the brooding behavior of 10 laboratory reared female Octopus joubini, including egg laying, care of the eggs, feeding during brooding, and survival of the female from the onset of egg laying. Data concerning the numbers of eggs laid by each female and hatching (duration, frequency, correlation of duration to water temperature, etc.) are given. The newly hatched octopuses (whose ages were determined within 24 h) were fed Uca spp. to determine their growth rate from hatching to 4 months of age. In addition, some specimens were presented with a variety of foods that were easily accessible in the laboratory or field in an effort to find a food suitable for mass culture.Contribution No. 1830 from the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.