Our red octopus (Octopus rubescens) laid eggs in late August 2018. It was unclear if they were fertilized. We suspected they were since octos are capable of mating with multiple males and storing sperm until they are ready to fertilize them. Sure enough, about a month later, we could see development! Small red eyes became visible, and chromatophores are starting to form, even an occasional heartbeat could be seen. Each egg is smaller than a grain of rice.
Octopus mothers are some of the best. Once they lay their eggs, the stop eating and devote all of their time to keeping the eggs clean, well oxygenated and safe from predators. Once the babies hatch, she will die. While unfortunate, this dedication allows the babies to develop into almost mini octopuses, giving them a better chance of survival than if the eggs developed in the open water. These eggs still have a few weeks to go, but I am going to keep documenting their development!