I have to wonder if the cup wasn’t really better for him though. He could hide up in there and still see out, and I’d imagine predators had never seen an octopus in a plastic cup before, whereas they are probably quite aware of shellfish.
Protect from what? It will certainly protect him from fish. I think it will work against anything without claws, and if he’s up against something with claws, I think they would easily pry the shells apart too. Even against something with claws he could maybe crawl to the other side of the cup- they likely wouldn’t open enough to crush the whole cup.
I have to wonder if the cup wasn’t really better for him though. He could hide up in there and still see out, and I’d imagine predators had never seen an octopus in a plastic cup before, whereas they are probably quite aware of shellfish.
The cup is incredibly soft, so it can’t protect him like the shell can
Protect from what? It will certainly protect him from fish. I think it will work against anything without claws, and if he’s up against something with claws, I think they would easily pry the shells apart too. Even against something with claws he could maybe crawl to the other side of the cup- they likely wouldn’t open enough to crush the whole cup.
There are fish that can bite through that cup like it isnt even there
True, but would they? I would think most have learned not to eat plastic by now?
fish are pretty dumb.
a plastic translucent cup let’s predators see the octopus inside. The harder shell is opaque and just looks like every other shell.
Naaaaah, they’ll see the food and might not even recognise the plastic cup
I was about to say a mantis shrimp, but I think it wouldn’t really matter if it was a seashell anyway.