PSA: Octo den with eggs

Tell us your tale of coming nose-to-nose with a 6 gill [--this big--], or about your vacation to turquoise warm waters. Share your adventures here!
Post Reply
User avatar
ljjames
I've Got Gills
Posts: 2725
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:46 pm

PSA: Octo den with eggs

Post by ljjames »

Hiya local divers and visitors to Cove 2, if you are visiting the Octopus on eggs, and move the rocks on the far side of den to get a closer look, please return them. Too big an opening and momma octo gets more stressed due to predators poking head in. Stress will shorten her life and reduce chance of a viable hatch event.

This is the first den i've observed in the coves in a couple years (all the other dens that used to be prolific seem to have been barren or die too quickly since Seastar Wasting syndrome - i don't know if there is any correlation to water quality/temp etc, just of interest given the late nature of the egg laying in this den).

I'm not gonna be the scuba police and say 'don't touch the rocks' just 'please put them back and limit your visits to every couple weeks and keep them shortish as traffic is increasing now that folks know she's there (yes I weight this concern when i post images/video). The eggs do not look ready to hatch so you don't need to bug her every day.

I promise i won't hoard the hatch if I happen to be there when it happens. I will mention it here.

Yes, I am visiting the coves weekly, but i'm only stuffing a camera near the opening and filming once every 2-3 weeks. Last night we did a quick pass, peered in from several feet away and that is when i noted the much larger opening and felt the need to mention. The first time I visited her the opening was basically fist size (think gopro on a stick needed to get any shot), now its full on DSLR camera with a dome port size.

So please please if you have visited and terraformed the den opening on the passenger ferry side, put the rocks back and give momma & babies a chance.
Last edited by ljjames on Mon Dec 11, 2017 1:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
----
"I survived the Brittandrea Dorikulla, where's my T-shirt!"
User avatar
Grateful Diver
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5322
Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 7:52 pm

Re: PSA: Octo den with eggs

Post by Grateful Diver »

Thank you Laura ... and I'll add my voice to "please be gentle and considerate". I'm convinced the last octopus mama in that location died prematurely because she was "loved to death" by all the diver traffic (including me, unfortunately). She's stressed enough during the final cycle of her life protecting her young. Let's please keep this in mind, and while I know how much people love to see these octos on eggs, let's try to be as inobtrusive as possible.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Threats and ultimatums are never the best answer. Public humiliation via Photoshop is always better - airsix

Come visit me at http://www.nwgratefuldiver.com/
Tangfish
NWDC Mascot
NWDC Mascot
Posts: 7746
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2005 2:11 pm

Re: PSA: Octo den with eggs

Post by Tangfish »

Thanks you two!
User avatar
stphnmartin
Amphibian
Posts: 821
Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 4:52 pm

Re: PSA: Octo den with eggs

Post by stphnmartin »

Visited the den last night. The rocks were pulled away and it was as if the GPO and eggs were never there.
:popcorn: View dive videos on my youtube channel. GH5, Nauticam housing, Big Blue 9000s, Sola 500, 1200, Scuba Lamp Snoot, Mavic 2 Pro, Osmo, Final Cut Pro X
User avatar
ScubaJess
NWDC Moderator
NWDC Moderator
Posts: 2681
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2014 3:56 pm

Re: PSA: Octo den with eggs

Post by ScubaJess »

Sad!! :(
Live Long And Prosper!!!

Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions. :luv: :partydance: :eric: :taco:
User avatar
Gdog
NWDC Moderator
NWDC Moderator
Posts: 3984
Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: PSA: Octo den with eggs

Post by Gdog »

Wow. That is a bummer
User avatar
StrangeDoc
Avid Diver
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Jun 03, 2017 10:34 am

Re: PSA: Octo den with eggs

Post by StrangeDoc »

I had visited the den last week and while the rocks were pulled away you could still see the remnants of where the eggs were and it looked like they hatched.
Post Reply