OCTOPUS?
- Thread starter jenni*
- Start date
- Location
- Virginia
Treat an octopus as you would a very sensitive coral, and keep lots of carbon filtration on the system, because if it decides to ink in your tank, the recirculating ink will be toxic for the octopus as well as anyone else in the tank. If you can, get a day octopus, since they are supposed to be more inquisitive and come out more. Octopi are very sensitive to conditions in your tank, so make sure it's in great shape before you get your octopus.
Environments will differ from one octopus to the next. Blue rings are often tidepool inhabitants, while larger octopi are sometimes deep water dwellers. Some reside in sandy areas with lots of rock formations, others will live in shell beds. A common theme for all octopi is that they love to hide. You must give them shelter so that they can escape from your site. Once, they get acclimated to your presence (which could be never) they will come out more often.
A common problem is the right food source for them. I had 2 types of octopi, a blue ring, and a common brown octopus. The blue ring died after a couple of weeks, and the brown lasted for about half a year until I was on vacation and the tank sitter unplugged everything (killing my octopus and my reef, what a tragedy). Neither ever ate ghost shrimp (no interest) and neither tackled guppies either. However, they really enjoyed fiddler crabs (I bought a bunch of them from a LFS for $50 for 50) and this became their staple.
Octopi are also definitely escape artists. In mine, had a 20 long drilled for an overflow, then I siliconed the glass hood down to the tank, cutting a hole in the back for a return. The front was also siliconed along the edges for a snug tight fit, so there was absolutely no space for them to escape. Octopi are notoriously intelligent, and will figure out a way to escape if you give them the slightest hole.
These are very specialized animals and also very intelligent. Don't try and get one unless you are an expert, and are willing to have a pet that you may not ever see. Even though they are incredibly cool, when you see one at the LFS, often you are only seeing it because it is has not been given a place to hide, and it is very stressed out. If this is the case, it could easily die in the bag by inking on your way home.
Again, I cannot stress enough, unless you're an expert, don't get an octopus.
Environments will differ from one octopus to the next. Blue rings are often tidepool inhabitants, while larger octopi are sometimes deep water dwellers. Some reside in sandy areas with lots of rock formations, others will live in shell beds. A common theme for all octopi is that they love to hide. You must give them shelter so that they can escape from your site. Once, they get acclimated to your presence (which could be never) they will come out more often.
A common problem is the right food source for them. I had 2 types of octopi, a blue ring, and a common brown octopus. The blue ring died after a couple of weeks, and the brown lasted for about half a year until I was on vacation and the tank sitter unplugged everything (killing my octopus and my reef, what a tragedy). Neither ever ate ghost shrimp (no interest) and neither tackled guppies either. However, they really enjoyed fiddler crabs (I bought a bunch of them from a LFS for $50 for 50) and this became their staple.
Octopi are also definitely escape artists. In mine, had a 20 long drilled for an overflow, then I siliconed the glass hood down to the tank, cutting a hole in the back for a return. The front was also siliconed along the edges for a snug tight fit, so there was absolutely no space for them to escape. Octopi are notoriously intelligent, and will figure out a way to escape if you give them the slightest hole.
These are very specialized animals and also very intelligent. Don't try and get one unless you are an expert, and are willing to have a pet that you may not ever see. Even though they are incredibly cool, when you see one at the LFS, often you are only seeing it because it is has not been given a place to hide, and it is very stressed out. If this is the case, it could easily die in the bag by inking on your way home.
Again, I cannot stress enough, unless you're an expert, don't get an octopus.
- Location
- Virginia
OK, I just saw that you had a thread for snowflakes and one for octopi. If you're thinking of mixing them, don't. The octopus will be a quick snack for your snowflake. If your snowflake is smaller than the octopus, it could be the other way around. Eels love to eat octopi, and octopi love to eat anything they can. I really hope that's not what you were planning on doing. If so, I would suggest you get neither, as you have a lot of reading up to do before you're ready.
- Location
- Virginia
Let's all agree to call plural octopus - 16 legs, 24, legs, etc. etc.
If your gonna get an octopus get a bimac. They are the hardiest and least shy and less likely to escape but research heavily. Also octopod (correct form based on the root word being derived from greek not the -i ending in latin) only live about a year so buying one now may leave you with a short lived pet. If you are truly interested check out reefcentral they have a cephalopod disscusion group and check dr woods page, hes a genius.
going down your list environment needs many places to hide. PVC piping and empty jars or plastic containers make great dens along with shells for them to decorate with.
temp- keep it a little less than most reefs and tropical tanks to lengthen lifespan
specific gravity has to be full seawater not what is used for fish only tanks ~1.025? or so
Food should be live saltwater crustaceans and mollusks but frozen is good if they will take it. Freshwater live foods are decent but supposedly contain the wrong types of fat.
an octopus must be kept in a species only tank everything else will be eaten. Starfish and some cukes will be ignored maybe featherdusters but fish shrimp etc. will be eaten. I wanted an octo for a very long time(still do) but am waiting till after college. My octo tank was setup about a year ago and now houses a few fish. when i finally get the octo in a few years these fish will be relocated to one of my other tanks.
going down your list environment needs many places to hide. PVC piping and empty jars or plastic containers make great dens along with shells for them to decorate with.
temp- keep it a little less than most reefs and tropical tanks to lengthen lifespan
specific gravity has to be full seawater not what is used for fish only tanks ~1.025? or so
Food should be live saltwater crustaceans and mollusks but frozen is good if they will take it. Freshwater live foods are decent but supposedly contain the wrong types of fat.
an octopus must be kept in a species only tank everything else will be eaten. Starfish and some cukes will be ignored maybe featherdusters but fish shrimp etc. will be eaten. I wanted an octo for a very long time(still do) but am waiting till after college. My octo tank was setup about a year ago and now houses a few fish. when i finally get the octo in a few years these fish will be relocated to one of my other tanks.
Another thing to consider is buying a young octopus from a specialized dealer. There is an online source, I think it's called the Cephalopod Page, don't have the link. They seemed to be the best source for many different species of octopi(I believe some are captive raised). If you go the LFS route for a 'pus you may end up with a pregnant female which would have a lower life expectancy. They die after they lay eggs.
They are fascinating critters. I had one in a 20 gal tank when I was around 12. I rarely saw it except at night. It only ate live food, hermit crabs, green crabs and any other inverts I could find at the beach. She survived three months. During the third month she pushed out her eggs. Soon after the eggs hatched she perished.
They are fascinating critters. I had one in a 20 gal tank when I was around 12. I rarely saw it except at night. It only ate live food, hermit crabs, green crabs and any other inverts I could find at the beach. She survived three months. During the third month she pushed out her eggs. Soon after the eggs hatched she perished.
Fantastic site on octopuses http://is.dal.ca/~ceph/TCP/index.html
It's octopuses. Here's why. http://is.dal.ca/~ceph/TCP/faq.html#Plural
It's octopuses. Here's why. http://is.dal.ca/~ceph/TCP/faq.html#Plural
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