Keeping octopus :)

[drperetz]

After reading some posts, I have understood that I am not alone when I say
this: " I want to keep an octopus"! Obviously impossible but with todays filtration and capacity limits, it not only seems reasonable, but prominently possible. Its a fact I can not afford such a system but would love to calculate how much a system like that would cost. I am thinking more than 500 gallons to begin with. We'll say around 500+ lbs of live rock, best skimmer, t5z or solaris, other filtration, additives (automated), wattage, water (considering you have to pay for water), and obviously salt...

 

[tosiek]

They have pygmy bimacs that can be kept in a 40g+ tank. And all you would need would be a skimmer to get rid of waste as well as some filter pads or something to help =0) Your only really worrying about oxygenating the tank, and removing waste. As well as sealing the tank from it ever escaping. Been wanting to set up a tank for a while.

My octo tank:

40g breeder or a 60g tank with the same footprint as the 40br (turned into an all in one tank)
1x skimmer rated at 2x the gallonage
1 x powerhead
reactor for carbon + phosban (or cheato cultivation)
1x pump to run the reactor
1x PC fixture

+ live rock, sand, and some caulerpa/macro for decoration/extra nutrient removal.

You'll never see an octo unless its feeding in a 500g.

http://www.tonmo.com/

 

[Josh]

You don't need all that filtration, just a huge skimmer and maybe a carbon pad. Lighting can be pretty modest as well. Assume you will be doing a lot of water changes and the tank must be completely sealed but still fully oxygenated.

Do not get a pygmy bimac as your first octopus. It would be much better to start with a vulgaris as they are a bit hardier.

 

[drperetz]

I

keeping an octopus in a 40g is a little cruel. Sorry, I am sure its a dwarf octo, but I was thinking obviously of a bigger genus. A 500 gallon for a 20+ inch octo.

 

[NYreefNoob]

You Cant User Shop Lights For Lighting, They Dont Need The Light And Are Really Only Active At Night. And I Know Someone With A Pygmy In A 29g Cube Had For Over A Year, Thats A Little To Small But He Has Had Success So Far,

 

[Domboski]

Remember when buying an Octo that MOST only live a year to a year and a half natural life. If you buy one, your lucky to get 8 months from it and most likely your are going to get 3-6 months. Just a consideration before you spend the money. I'm on my thrid octo. I had a Vulgaris for 6 months. Definitely a hardier species. They can be picky eaters too. Water temp is also a consideration depending on species. I have had great success with Octos. Feel free to PM me and I'll give you info based on my experience.

 

[drperetz]

...

hey Dom... I am not planning to keep a octo curently. It would be a disaster if it dies in 6 months. I still want to keep the purple nudis. Kinda got hooked on that 1... thinking of keeping a pair of dwarf sea horses. Just got a nice 12 nano cube dx.....thinking of how I can stock it.

 

[Domboski]

Dwarf Seahorses are awesome and easier to keep than most will say. Baby brine shrimp work well. I even had my adults munching on mysis.

 

[drperetz]

...

Dom , how long do larger octos live, I heard for more than 5+ years true or not?

 

[Domboski]

I believe the GPO (Giant Pacific Octopus) lives a natural life of 3-5 years. It is one of only a rare few that live longer than 1.5 years naturally. Temperature and other such considerations factor in.

 

[Domboski]

BTW, I don't even think a 500 gallon tank is big enough to keep a GPO.

 

[drperetz]

...

Damn it....#@$%#$@%$%@#$%@$#%#$%@#$%@$#%@#$%@#$%...


I want an Octopu......:banghead::p

 

[Domboski]

I still want to keep the purple nudis. Kinda got hooked on that 1...

This would be a nice project and if you could find a way to make it work, you probably could make some money off it. I can't figure out how those sponges grow. I have found they grow much faster and plentiful when water params are not the best. When I moved pieces of the sponge into my reef tank, the sponge grew but did not spread like it has in my large tank.

When I get all settled in with my shark ponds and moving. I may re-join you on that project.

 

[drperetz]

...

Thanx Dom. It is still something I will plan on doing in the future, when I figure exactly the sponge that the purple nudi makes a meal of. I think me and u figured it out last time but for some reason the nudis were weardly picky.

 

[Domboski]

Damn it....#@$%#$@%$%@#$%@$#%#$%@#$%@$#%@#$%@#$%...


I want an Octopu......:banghead::p

If I were you (and I have done this) is create an escape free extension to your reef tank. I used a 12g eclipse for a red octopus. You can run the water straight from your reef into the Octo extension and have it over flow back into the main tank. Get a warmer water species of Octo and keep your reef at about 75 degrees max. That temp is a compromise for the reef and Octo. The Octo would be quite active and HUNGRY at 75 degrees but will have a shorter lifespan. You also will need to figure out what the Octo will eat consistently. I've always used fiddler crabs successfully and have tried all sorts of other foods unsuccessfully. I have lost a few flame scallops to the Octo I currently have. Some other people have had luck with scallops and fish. I've never had luck with that at all. My first Octo used to fish out the frozen mysis I fed my seahorses with his tentacle sticking out of his den. That was pretty amusing.

 

[drperetz]

what

what u r saying is that u kept it with sea horses....How big is the system, is it the 1 that was standing by the kitcken door?

 

[Domboski]

My first Octo was in the 12 gallon eclipse. My second Octo was in the 40 gallon long that hangs above my shark tank (where my seahorses used to be). The Octo I have now is in the 72 Bow near the front door. I have my 2 seahorses, two ribbon eels (both eat frozen fish and I got them from Michael at NYAQUATIC) and my latest Octo in the 72. This is not common practice or recommended by most people. Water temp is kept consistently at 72 degrees. Most of my zoos and all of my gorgonians do fine at that temp range. A couple of my leather corals have done well too. I used to have my false stone fish and my juvenile crocodile fish in there too but recently moved them into the 200 gallon as they are getting big enough to eat ornamental fish (Cardinal size).

As you know, I'm still in the process of planning my shark pond for early next year. This process has been slow forming for many reasons. I want the pond to be indoors and not only a look down set up. Moisture (humidity) is another thing I have been trying to plan best for and of course, the easiest way to keep up with the maintenance.

 

[Domboski]

One thing I've learned since I started keeping aquariums a long time ago, ONE PROJECT AT A TIME! LOL

I used to try and keep up with so many projects. I've since parted with many of my favorite pets and now I'm mainly focused on my sharks.

 

[drperetz]

u

u remind me of myself. I am very responcible about starting things, but when u have school and work itshard to keep up.