Octopus...

[mako1]

Well here is the deal. My tank should be finished cycleing by this week, all my levels are almost back at 0 and everything is good to go. I have live rock in the tank and what not. Went to the local fish store today and there is a BEAUTIFUL octopus there. This is a "reef safe" fish to an extent. My guestion is, how reef safe is it, I know it will likely kill other fish in with it, what about inverts and anenomies and other living things???? I really want to get this octopus and not even do a complete reef tank like I wanted to cause how it is being treated. This octopus isnt huge but he is very big, and they have him in a hermit crab cage prolly 6x4x4 all alone and by himself in the middle of another tank with fish inside. I think that is bullshit how they are keeping it, that thing is way to intellegent to be sitting in BOX i wont even call it a tank all by itself with nothing to do. so if someone could tell me what would happen or what i can put in my tank with this thing I would appreciate it if it is gone by thursday or next week he's golden and will be comming home with me, if not, I will be happy to see he was purchased and hopefully the new owner takes better care of him. :needhelp: :happy: :joy:

 

[jon321]

i have an octopus, look at this thread for basic info on them:
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=165111
basically it will eat ANY fish, snails, crabs, shrimp, etc. It is no recommended they be kept with ANY corals or anenomes as in the aquarium they cannot always move around them and may get stung and die. Basically the ONLY things you can keep with an octopus safely is starfish, pencil urchins, and sponges.
oh yes, octopus only have a natural lifespan of 12-18 months FROM BIRTH so the octopus there probably only has 6-10 months left in it, so you could have the octopus alone for the rest of its life, then complete your reef? just an idea.
Jon

 

[mako1]

I was thinking of sticking it in my cycles tank, and buy another tank with some liverock in it, and cycle it and stick him in there by himself. I was thinking about getting another Octogon tank anyway for the other side of the family room. Oh well I will see what happends. Hopefully someone buys him before I head back up there.

 

[guineawhop]

your tank needs to be mature before you can get an octo, at least 6 months with perfect water. also they will eat everything inverts like snails, crabs, hermits, shrimps you name it. and it will also eat all your fish as well. that is if it doesn't find it's way out.

 

[jon321]

i wouldnt say that, get atleast 1lbs/gallon of lr and ls, some macroalgae and your set, 1 octopus makes ALOT less waste than a stocked tank of fish, although an octopus does make more waste than you would expect considering their size, as long as ammonia and nitrite are at 0 and you do weekly or even bi-weekly water changes it will be fine.
Jon

 

[sankysyuck]

Octopi do very well even in those tiny Penn Plax boxes, it may seem cruel to keep them in a litle box, but they actually can live a great healthy life in such a small container. My high schools Marine Aquaculture and traveling sea lab raised one that did great, since its the summer now, the school had to get rid of all their livestock so I offered to take her home with me. Although, I thought about keeping her in the box within one of my larger tanks, it didn't seem right to me to look at her within a small house, and not be able to see her in her own natural habitat, using her camo teqniques and to see her hunt her prey, so I decided to get her her own tank.

 

[jayc]

My LFS had the same thing a while back. Its just so mean! Even if they can live a healthy live in a tiny box its jut not fair to the animal to not be able to move around and swim. Keep us posted on weather you get it or not.

 

[sankysyuck]

Oh I did get her, about a month ago, right now she's just in a 20 gallon tank, I'm hoping to upgrade her to a bigger tank in the future (If she's still alive, im not sure how old she is)