The males, once they have mated with all the energy they can muster and the last receptive female has left, will then wander off to a certain, and well-earned, from the standpoint of fulfilling their only biological imperative, death.

What happens after cuttlefish mate?

Soon after mating, the female lays her eggs. She attaches them individually to objects near the sea floor. Once spawning is complete, the shoal of cuttlefish disappear back into the open sea.

Do male octopus die when they mate?

To mate, a male will insert his hectocotylus into the female's mantle cavity and deposit spermatophores (sperm packets). This process may take up to several hours, depending on the species. ... Typically, males die within months after mating, while females watch over their eggs until they hatch and then die shortly after.