Raising an Octopus???

aftrhrs

aftrhrs

Member
Is it legal to have one of these or do you have to be a zoo or educational facility to have one? I know it would have to be pretty much in it's own tank but was wondering if I could keep one.
thanks,
 
krishj39

krishj39

Active Member
You can own one. There are many species that come up for sale at pet stores. Do not get a blue ring octopus as they are deadly poisonous (they are still sold frequently, suprisingly). Octopus are very special care pets, and can escape from just about any aquarium. All the octupus I have ever seen for sale have actually been kept in their own cage inside the main tank, just to illustrate how difficult it is to contain them. They have only one bone in their body, their beak, and they can sqeeze through anything that is larger in diameter than their beak. Also, they have amazing prying power and can escape that way as well. They have short life spans, for the most part, as well. Anyway, simple answer to your question is, yes, you can own one. But, do a lot of research and planning before you dive in and buy one.
Kris
 
broncofish

broncofish

Active Member
They like dark, and love water quality. I have done a ton of research, and here is what is required IMO to keep one. A completely sealed tank. I'm talking a latched lid. Overflows must have strainers, and same with returns. Light should be no more intense than VHO, they are natural coral reef dwellers, but would probably wreck anything other than very hardy corals(shrooms, xenia) in a tank. Rock work should have lots of caves, and be glued, or drilled and attched with PVC. Natural Sand bed. and ZERO tank mates. Anything that will fit in their mouths they will eat. Filtration should be heavy. Good solid UV sterilizer with low flow, wet/dry sump and probly a refugium with a good assormtent of macro. Do not skimp on the protein skimmer. The last and final thing that blew it for me. When talking to someone that had tried to keep them for years. If you have a child who might scare, move quickly, or be overcuriouse about the octipus forget about it. There are several online retailers that offer Pygmy ones for sale, when my kid is older maybe?
 
aftrhrs

aftrhrs

Member
Thanks for the information. Sounds like they would be very expensive to keep. I am planning on setting up my 75g in my bedroom with an aggressive set-up or an octopus maybe. I am currently looking at a 265g at a LFS in Nashville to put all of my current 75g inhabitants in.
 
killafins

killafins

Active Member
how far away will ur next tank be? I read an artical from TFL where a guy named Rob Toonen went on, on how it is common for them to leave their tanks to others and come back without u noticing and a few missing fish in ur other aquarium. It is also said that if you have any lizards or anything like that they may be common for them to leave and take a quick visit to their homes and taking a meal home. Now I didn't hear about this either but I was researching alot cuz i was thinking about having an octopus tank. Except my cat sleeps in the same room as me with the door closed and I heard a story about how an octpus actually snuck up on a sleeping cat ON THE BED of the home caretaker.
I dunno, itsj ust one of those things that you have to be prepared to duck tape the lid closed and that kind of stuff. Just be prepared for inklings of trouble (that was horrible). If you need more information I can attempt to e-mail you a very good amount of literature on them if that helps. :D
 
killafins

killafins

Active Member
naaa, i love octopuses. I seriously contemplating doing it but this article completely drew me away. ^^let me try to find it that or i might have to type the entire article.. gagh!
 
killafins

killafins

Active Member
AFTRHRS, you have mail.
I typed it off from a magazine i read all the time. I pretty much skimmed to and fro from the importatn parts but everything that has (--) in front of hte paragraph is from his words except when u see alot of : blah blah blah.
 
killafins

killafins

Active Member
Kris, no problem. Already sent. Basiclaly you summed it all up but I dunno, I thought it would sound more efficiant comming form a somewhat hero of mine. This guy knows his sh*t. I hope it helps, once again I am still trying to scavenger up all my info. I had like three folders on them! :mad:
 
krishj39

krishj39

Active Member
I never got an email from you, care to try again? Don't bother looking for more info for my sake, BTW, I'm just a courious hobbyist, not actually looking to set up an octopus tank or anything.
 
aftrhrs

aftrhrs

Member
Hey thanks for all of the information. I really appreciate you typing it. I am thinking that I would like to set my 75g in my bedroom and Octopus proof it :D after I set up a 265 next spring.
If you don't mind I would appreciate any information you can find on the subject particular on schematics for tank filtration and easy access.
 
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