blue ringed octopus

[aarone]

I was at my LFS and the man told me he had some octopi in.
I asked what kind and he said "just general octopus"
These guys were really small. We were talking about SW and other things, then he said "you seem cool, so im gonna tell you what kind these are" They were blue ringed octopus.
"are'nt these one of the most poisonus animals in the sea?"
"yup!"
I continued to ask him why he sold them. He told me once aclimated to a tank, they lose their toxins because a food they eat in their natural habitat (which i think is GBR) produces the toxin and they cannot get it in the home aquarium.
Anyways, i was just wondering if this was true. Can someone clear this up for me?

 

[smokinstarfish]

I'm disturbed he's telling general people they're general octopus and only telling cool people they're deadly.

 

[jp0379]

Smokin, I gotta agree..........i think an phone call to the proper people is needed here, ONLY because I'm sure theres some kid somewhere thats going to think its "cool" and get hurt. Just my opinion.

 

[terminus est]

I do beleive there are laws against such practices and if someone does get bitten they can be held accountable for manslaughter do to failure to disclose that information. I see a hella lawsuit in the future.

 

[aarone]

I see a hella lawsuit in the future.
Or a moneymaker oppurtunity!
except for the fact that you would die in a matter of minutes if bitten by one of these little guys.
At full size, they are the size of a golf ball.
Pic

 

[moopiespoo]

I was waiting for a lfs to carry one of these. I knew it was only a matter of time. I really don't thing they lose their poison. aarone I think it is up to you to call your local health dept and report this. There has to be some kind of law, someones gonna get killed.

 

[aarone]

thank you very much.

 

[naturelover]

LFS around here once got a bluering.He forgot he orderd and put his hand inside, once he felt it he realized and he said he was lucky. but then it was special orderd for someone. So if someone is asking for a bluering they need to know it will kill in a min, other than that if a LFS tells you it is general kind and you buy it for your tank and get killed, well let someone in your family enjoy the money from lawsuit and blame your self for not researching enough before you die.

 

[ophiura]

Originally posted by aarone
I continued to ask him why he sold them. He told me once aclimated to a tank, they lose their toxins because a food they eat in their natural habitat (which i think is GBR) produces the toxin and they cannot get it in the home aquarium.
The man is obviously an idiot. You should encourage him to 'prove' it to you...and let natural selection take him.
Like other octopi, it eats inverts (snails, crabs) and fish. This is like saying that a rattlesnake is venemous because it eats poisonous rats.
Some Blue Ring Info...perhaps print it out for him

 

[aggie05]

I am still amazed that people want to own a creature that will kill you before you can get to the phone to call 911.

 

[daniel411]

Even if the owner doesn't care about how dangerous they are to his customers. I'm amazed that he isn't concerned about himself or his employees! Everyone makes mistakes.

 

[aarone]

Like other octopi, it eats inverts (snails, crabs) and fish. This is like saying that a rattlesnake is venemous because it eats poisonous rats.
LOL ophiura!

 

[smokinstarfish]

The man is obviously an idiot. You should encourage him to 'prove' it to you...and let natural selection take him.
Ha ha! I like that... natural selection indeed.

 

[stumpdog]

aarone-
So what are you going to do?
Wondering-
Jeremy

 

[aarone]

There is nothing i can do. I called animal control, and reported the problem, but they said unless its a rabies case, they have no jurisdiction. I could call the better business bureau.

 

[moopiespoo]

Did you try the health department? I would think the would be concererned or refer you to someone that is. If nothing works though at least you tried.

 

[aarone]

they directed me to animal control. They said "it really isnt a disease or virus spreading so we cannot do anything about it."

 

[polarpooch]

Your LFS guy is a moron, true. To not tell someone how deadly that animal is sounds almost criminal.
But Blue Rings in home aquariums are not unheard of. Some people just like to live dangerously. My LFS will order one if someone requests it. In fact, someone on this board (I forget who) kept one for a while.
I just read a month or two ago that you might be able to survive a Blue Ring bite...that is, if you get someone to give you constant CPR and mouth to mouth within minutes of the bite, and gets you to a hospital while giving you constant CPR and mouth to mouth, and you are immediately placed on a ventilator until the toxin leaves your body (24-36 hours). There have been a few lucky survivors who got the right help right away.
Seems like slim odds, though, doesn't it? Not my idea of a fun pet.

 

[ophiura]

I think, should someone actually die from it (because of not knowing what species it was) that it would be a criminal case. What do you guys think? Then aarone could be called in to say that the owner told him it was a blue ring octo and not some regular one (but that he wasn't telling everyone that). Just seems really sketchy to me. People can keep them all they want, but they definitely need to know what they are getting. The problem is that they are prettiest when they are the most likely to bite...so I can see some 'folks' at a party goin "make him light up!! Make him light up!!!" and whamo.
Kudos to aarone for doing a lot of leg work to try and get this guy in some way!!

 

[polarpooch]

People can keep them all they want, but they definitely need to know what they are getting. The problem is that they are prettiest when they are the most likely to bite
Right on.
Aarone, here's an idea. Call your local radio station or email your newspaper, and see if they're interested in doing a story on exotic, dangerous pets. Point them in the direction of this idiot, see if he tells them the same stupid story he told you.
People love stories about pets and people love to be outraged...being in radio, I'd jump on it if it were in my city...