I was waiting to add this to when I'd got the photos up, but since my camera is playing up, I thought it would be worth adding anyway. There are now Nautilus at the National Sea Life Centre. They are in the last tank before the ray pool and look very healthy. These were on my must see list of species and I was very surprised to see they haven't publicised them at all. I believe there are a few different species, so no idea if they are a smaller species or youngsters of a bigger one. I wonder where they'll put them if they're going to grow?
I remember when Sealife Portsmouth had them but when it changed to Blue Reef they disappeared, does anyone know where they went?
they still have them tigerlemurguy, oh yes force of habit anyways yes they do still have them on display does anyone have any info on the old sealife pompey
thats interesting to me that they are able to keep them alive for more than a few years, especially as cuttlefish and octopus usually don't last long in aquaria.
Going back a few years I remember The Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay having a sign up saying that their had laid eggs.
Nautilus are great. I've seen them in a number of different Aquariums and I never get tired of seeing them. its not that other cephalopods don't live long in Aquariums, its that they don't live long full-stop. Most octopus species for example have a life-span of just one or two years. Even the Giant Pacific Octopus has a total lifespan of only five to seven years. Basically, most cephalopods grow extremely rapidly, breed, then die. Nautilus buck the trend by maturing slowly and then breeding repeatedly. They probably live for twenty years or more. apparently they're not too difficult to breed so long as daily temperature variations are adhered to. (Adults and juveniles will live quite happily in steady temperatures but they won't breed - or rather, they may lay eggs but they won't be fertile)
They still have Nautili at Portsmouth Blue Reef (approx 3-4). They are in a tank to themselves and are usually overlooked by most visitors. Blue Reef also has a Giant Pacific Octopus (male) after they lost their female earlier this year after spawning. Another recent addition is a Curled Octopus that was found by a fisherman off Selsey. I haven't seen it myself, but it was reported as being in a display tank as it recovered.
Ah right, thank you for that. I must have missed them on my last visit. I much preferred them when they were exhibited in the circular glass tank now holding Silver Dollars (I think?) They made a very interesting exhibit.
