![]() However, the habitats apparently suitable for the mimic are limited, easily accessible and the number of people (including collectors) diving on them is rapidly increasing. Only dozens have been seen, not hundreds or thousands. Even in areas such as the Lembeh Straits and Bali, which have been extensively dived by knowledgeable naturalists, sightings have been infrequent and sporadic. Since they were first recognized, very few have been collected or observed in the wild. If there is one thing that we know about mimics, it is that they are rare. However, I feel strongly that because of its notoriety and scarcity, mimics present a special case that deserves our immediate attention. Over the years I have strongly supported the aquarium industry because I firmly believe that public awareness of, and interest in, marine diversity offers one of our best routes to marine conservation. I certainly support efforts to culture a variety of organisms for public, commercial and private display. I want to make it clear from the onset that I am not against the importation of marine life where its collection did not threaten existing stocks. At this point, I think we should all take a deep breath and think seriously about the biology of this species, what such bounties are likely to mean for its survival, and what motivates us to want a mimic for our very own. It is not uncommon to see requests for such animals and often the amount of money offered for them is staggering - $100 and up. The pressures to acquire and attempt to keep and display them are rapidly increasing. However, as the animals become better known, they are also becoming more desirable for public aquarists, scientists and hobbyists alike. Even if their mimetic abilities are limited, we must marvel at the images of these animals that have been captured on film and video and are displayed around the world. Whether they are capable of the repertoire of behaviors attributed to them remains to be seen. There is no question that the mimic octopus and its relatives such as wunderpus are remarkable animals. While I'm not against octopuses being kept as pets, I believe that this amazing and still undescribed species should not be kept. I personally had a wonderpus in my care for all of 4 days. Both urge aquarists to keep other species instead on this delicate animal. Wild and Chris is the only aquarist I know of that has had any luck keeping a mimic octopus alive in captivity. Wonderpus, also underscribed and a relative of the mimic octopus Caldwell is one of a very few people that have worked with these amazing octopuses in the Roy Caldwell wrote the original post and Chris Shaw replied with first hand knowlege. This article was inspired by two posts on Ceph Group, a list-server dedicated to cephalopods and open to all. Roy Caldwell and Christopher D Shaw - Dr. Mimic Octopuses: Will we love them to death? << Cephalopod Articles | By Dr. Mimic Octopuses: Will we love them to death? - The Cephalopod Page ![]()
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