Dwarf Octopus

[mike22cha]

So I'm buying a dwarf octopus for my 20 gallon tank.

I know what to feed an octopus but how often is the question. Also what sort of octo proof devices have people made to keep the octopus off the lid and try to escape. Would duct tape work for the lid? Can i duct tape the top down to the outside of the tank? The tank's top has a light on top so it is sort of heavy on one side but its cheap plastic on the other. All advice welcome.

 

[dmc888]

Don't know much about them. But you might want to check out this link first. I think this is the one you are talking about.
Read

 

[teen]

the dwarfs dont have very long lifespans(most octopus dont), mine died within 2 or so weeks and i thought she was in good condition. you should also make sure the tank is octo-proof before you even consider buying him/her.

 

[aw2x3]

For one thing, you wont ever see it. Dwarf's are one of my most solitary and will hide 99% of the time.
If you havent already figured out a way to seal off the top, dont bother buying the octo...it'll be dead within a few days, after it climbs out. It's alot more than just duct taping the top, etc. I had a Bimac, one time, that learned if he got duct tape wet, it wouldnt hold very well. After several escape attempts, he finally succeeded and I found him on the floor the next morning.

 

[mike22cha]

Okay well I won it so I bought live rock and put up a background yesterday. The tank has been ready for a while. I took out water from the tank so it is an inch from the lid. Ill take out some more while getting the octopus adjusted. My dad and I are going to try duct tape on top and some sort of plastic sheet on the bottom of the lid. Can't wait to get it.

 

[mike22cha]

I had some problems buying it so I won't get it till the middle of the week next week.

Oh well it will be very cool. I asked the seller how often he fed the guy and he said he left food in there and the octopus ate when he wanted. I don't see why the octopus wouldn't overfeed so how often should I feed it?

 

[aw2x3]

One post you say you won it and the next post you say you bought it?
Why buy/take the thing if it's just going to die? You're gonna get a maximum of a few weeks (and I highly doubt that long) out of it.
Unless you're a highly experianced octo keeper, Dwarfs are about the WORST species to get.

 

[mike22cha]

Well I knew about octopus and I thought this would be perfect for my 20g so I bided on it and won. Still how often do you feed it? It may be the worst decision of my life but still the fact is i am going to recieve an octopus and I need to know how often you feed it. I looked around on some forum sites that are for octopus and squids but didn't find much. I don't know if sticking all the octopuses food in with it would be a good idea or not so would it?

 

[aw2x3]

Certainly dont dump a bunch of food in there. Most likely, it's not going to be on frozen foods yet, so you're gonna have to start finding small hermits, snails and shrimp for it.
Unless you want to go to the LFS a few times a week, to buy food, you're gonna need to set up another tank, that'll contain only the octo's food.
Put a couple (two) of hermits or snails or shrimp in the tank once or twice a week. If you see that he's eating those, put a few more in.

 

[psusocr1]

you should be at the bimac forums as well.. these creatures need ALOT of research before jumping into it. Aw knows what he talsking abotu when it comes to octo's since he has had experience in keeping them..

 

[mike22cha]

Thanks for the feeding info. I am most definatly spend the weekend researching more on the dwarf octopus. I am thinking of buying a lot of snails and hermits and put them in my 125g, I only have tangs in there so they won't bother them, and take them out when needed. What kind of lids did you use and how did you get the filters in the tank without space for the octopus?

 

[jon321]

I duct taped the thick plastic used as table cloth protectors over the holes. My octos have never escaped. I fed mine every other day or so. Be warned though, they produce ALOT of waste and need perfect water quality. I had to do a 10% waterchange every other day, and fed inbetween water changes just to keep nitrates undetectable in a 20g tank. It would stop feeding if nitrates were detectable.
Jon

 

[aw2x3]

Duct taping an entire sheet of plastic over the edges is also going to cause concern for the oxygen exchange in your tank. I would'nt go that far.
With a Dwarf, you need to secure ANY and ALL holes that are the size of a pencil eraser and smaller. You gotta remember that they can squeeze out of any hole that's the size of their mantel. I've seen 12" - 15" Bimac's squeeze out of holes that were smaller than a dime.

 

[mike22cha]

Well couldn't I poke small holes towards the middle of the lid?

 

[drixonite]

Originally Posted by MIKE22cha
Well couldn't I poke small holes towards the middle of the lid?
I hate to be "that guy" but you clearly haven't done any/sufficient research about keeping an octopus.
Head over to ****com and educate yourself for a month, then reconsider. I especially recommend their ceph care articles - they're written by people who have kept cephalopods for many years. Don't worry, you'll pick up quick.
Octopods are expensive, short-lived, and amazing creatures. Don't get one until you know exactly what you're getting into.

 

[mike22cha]

Ive been reading a lot at Tonmo and found a lot on octopuses but not a lot on dwarfs. I did some searches on the site and didn't find anything so I read the ceph care articles and forums. Still i know that there shouldn't be holes but how is the oxgen getting in?

 

[watson3]

Find a LFS, and let them take it either until you can handle it, it dies with them, or you can sell it to someone who can take care of it

 

[drixonite]

Originally Posted by MIKE22cha
Ive been reading a lot at Tonmo and found a lot on octopuses but not a lot on dwarfs. I did some searches on the site and didn't find anything so I read the ceph care articles and forums. Still i know that there shouldn't be holes but how is the oxgen getting in?
Octopods create a lot of biological waste - whatever filtration you run you're going to want to have the gph (gallons per hour) be six to ten times the capacity of your tank. This much water movement should agitate the surface somewhat and stimulate the exchange of CO2 out and O2 in. Most people have a sump of some sort, which is where most of the gas exchange occurs... I had my 90-gal planned with a 40~50 gal fuge where I'd keep the octo's food, but ultimately I decided I didn't want to keep an octo.
You should make a thread on ***.com and ask them specific questions. Do you know exactly what species of dwarf it is? Mercatoris, joubini, briareus? You can make specific threads... here's one that was for mercatoris.
Please DOP NOT link to other forums its against the rules here
People there will be able to help you a lot more than people here as they specialize in ceph care.

 

[mike22cha]

Been reading a lot at tonmo and found out a lot. The seller is a member and I read some threads about him finding the Gulf Dwarf Octopus in his tank. He had more than one octopus in there so the say it is probably captive breed. Also I heard that fish nets make good screens to keep the octopus inside the tank and out of filters so i duct taped openings in the tank and then that is combined with the lower water level. Going to recieve the octopus tomorrow.

 

[mike22cha]

Got the octopus in and it is doing great. It stays in a cave most of the time so i couldn't get pictures but it is alive and doing great.