octopus question?

[sx450 rider]

How big of a tank would you need for an octopus? would you be able to keep other fish with it or would it just eat them?

 

[nuro]

depends on the species of octo for the tank size. some require bigger then others and soem require special set ups. as for the second part of that question. it will attempt to eat any fish, even if it doesnt get the fish its likely to stress it out.
also: octos dont live incredibly long so if you buy one thats a good size its likely near the end of its lifespan. stay away from blue rings becuase theyll mature and die very quickly.
octopuses are very cool but can be trickey, theyll escape from anything and require alot of attention. pm me and i can give some good websites to ref.

 

[dragonzim]

Originally Posted by nuro
http:///forum/post/3122427
. stay away from blue rings becuase theyll mature and die very quickly.
And dont forget that little thing about THEM KILLING YOU if you get bit!

 

[olemiss]

Blue rings do not "mature and die very quickly" compared to any other octo. I personally know two reefers in New Orleans that each have one. One is going on 10 months and the other is right at a year. There are also a few on the big ceph forum that have kept blues for long periods. Blue rings tend to ship poorly, so the survival rate is not great, but it can be done. The only reason to stay away is that they can kill you. In the proper set up they are quite interesting.
On the original question i would go with a 75 -90 mainly because many of the sites that have octos simply list them as "caribbean octopus" so you never know which one you will receive. Google "octopus site" to find the ceph forum. Lots of good info to get you started.

 

[nuro]

blue rings have shorter life spans then most comercially available cephs, and breed and a younger age. thus mature quicker. i apologize for not being clearer

 

[runn3rb3an]

they hve the same life span if im not mistaken.. but about 2 in every 15 shipped arive alive, I have never seen one survive for a few days after that.

 

[nuro]

the live about 18 months from what ive read, plus being a smaller species your are more likely to get a more mature individual.

 

[sx450 rider]

Thanks for all the feedback! I dont really think im going to be getting one or any thing i was just kinda thinkin out loud and figured that i can only gain some knowledge lol... dont you have to the lid tied down so that they dont get out?

 

[jackri]

Pretty much, your tank would have to be locked down tight.
Amazing all the different ways a saltwater tank can be set up.

 

[da fish guy]

From what I hear they are notorious escape artist and if it's bigger than any fish in the tank, you will probably find a dead fish in the mourning since I think most are nocturnal and hunt at night.

 

[sooner_reefer]

If you get a dwarf octopus the they'd be fine in a nano aquarium (20 gallons at least though) and can be kept in groups. I kept one a for a while but didn't see it too often. Keep lots of rockwork in the aquarium so they feel safer and will come out more. They are nocturnal so don't expect them to come out during the day. Larger octopuses like the bimac need at least 55g I believe I read somewhere but obviously a 75g is a much better idea. If you're going to house any type of octopus you need to make sure there is no possible way they can exit the tank or get inside a powerhead or filter. If I remember right, they can fit into a hole the size of their beak, which is pretty small. Also no fish or invert you wish to keep alive should be in the same aquarium as the octopus. I fed mine live crab, snails, and hermits. I don't know if they accept frozen food or not.
That's all I remember, but I did most of my research on that ceph forum mentioned earlier.

 

[texasmetal]

https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/281374/octopus-care-101

 

[sx450 rider]

Thanks for all in input guys... like i said tho i dont think i will get one tell i get a couple years experience under my belt