Biological characteristics and embryonic development of Octopus vulgaris under artificial farming condition

Biological characteristics and artificial reproduction technique of Octopus vulgaris were studied. Results showed that this animal preferred to live in shades and to prey upon live animals like crustaceans and shellfish. It also ate dead animals such as dead fish, crabs and mollusks. It preyed more actively at night. Female individuals mated with male individuals in the breeding season. Before giving birth, O. vulgaris females hided themselves into the nest, and laid fertilized egg in batches, which clustered in bundles and attached to the walls of the nest. Females had the behavior of egg protection. It could not release all the eggs it held. The amount of ovulated eggs ranged from 7104 to 20104 eggs, about 42~71 eggsg-1 under artificial farming condition. Development of eggs lasted for 35~42 days in sea water before hatching when the water temperature was 18.2~22.1℃, 24~37 days at 22.3~26.9℃ or 23~33 days at 24.6~28.3℃.