keeping a octopus.

Monster00101 · 01/05/2011, 05:45 PM

Is there a easy to keep octopus? Are they known to be hardy? Im not sure if this is the right spot for this question but i have always liked them and was thinking of getting one.

small alien · 01/05/2011, 06:02 PM

I believe there is a cephalapod forum on RC. I don't think there's an easy octopus.

SushiGirl · 01/05/2011, 07:25 PM

They don't live very long, usually only a matter of months, and the tank has to be extremely secure because they are escape artists.

As small alien said, try the Cephalopod forum here or tonmo.com.

andrewkw · 01/05/2011, 07:55 PM

I would say they are more trying to keep then difficult.

I have an octopus briareus. It's a tropical species so I keep the temp at 78-80ish. Some species are colder water and require a chiller.

They will likely if not certainly require at least some live food at the start. I feed mine a mixture of live fiddler crabs and frozen grocery store shrimp.

I would say they are modestly hardy but poor shippers. They just don't live long. Not in the wild nor in aquariums.

Your best bet is to get one young. The only way you can be sure is to see it first. If none of your local reef shops ever get any in you're at the mercy of whatever comes after you order online.

You can check out some photos and videos of my guy here

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1948657

PDCASU · 01/05/2011, 09:04 PM

What size tank do you keep the Octopus?

Great Pics...

andrewkw · 01/05/2011, 09:48 PM

He is in a custom 90 (36x24x24)

Probably a 65 would do him but I wouldn't go smaller then that for this species. Even now not fully grown arm to arm he can reach about 20".

billsreef · 01/07/2011, 02:06 PM

This thread has been moved to the current forum....

Monster00101 · 01/08/2011, 05:34 PM

I have a rsm 250 it has a large lid i could weight it down. I could probly order one from my lfs and get them to keep it for a bit just to make sure. How much is the average cost?

sedor · 01/08/2011, 06:23 PM

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/Octopus_p_728.html
Here is one on saltwaterfish.com for $75 + shipping...I would expect to pay around the same price or a little more locally.

Monster00101 · 01/09/2011, 12:38 PM

Thats a very decent price. i thought they would be around the 500 mark. so other than feeding and actully keeping it in the tank there fairly strait forward?

Monster00101 · 01/09/2011, 12:40 PM

Do they need a tank to themselves? Could u keep one with a large trigger or eel?

billsreef · 01/09/2011, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monster00101

Do they need a tank to themselves? Could u keep one with a large trigger or eel?

Trigger or Eel = Octopus for dinner.

Best to keep them in a tank to themselves.

Monster00101 · 01/09/2011, 04:16 PM

ok thanks for the help. If i end up orgering one and getting it What should i look for to know i got a healthy one?

andrewkw · 01/09/2011, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monster00101

ok thanks for the help. If i end up orgering one and getting it What should i look for to know i got a healthy one?

You are at the mercy of whatever they send you if you order one.

Ideally you want to ID the species before you get it, but most places that sell them won't have a clue what they have. Once you've made the ID you want them to be smaller then adult size so you know they have some time left.

Other then that it's just a matter of finding somewhere that has them. I was lucky enough to get mine at a local reef store. Don't worry too much if they are a little beat up. Mine had 6 arms when I got it and within a month they had grown back and his grip is surprisingly strong.

Lmecher · 01/09/2011, 11:59 PM

I believe SWF is out but they have a waiting list. I just got one from them on Tuesday. They are difficult to ID... to tell their age, very difficult.
From SWF we usually see O. hummelincki (caribbean two spot). It is a small octopus which is dinural. This is fantastic because they will spend a lot of time out roaming and hunting in the daylight hours. It has false eyespot (distinguishing) that are usually brown but when it gets angry or very scared will turn blue and yellow.
There are several species commonly kept by aquarists. Liveaquaria.com usually has A. aculeatus and divertom.com usually has O. brierus and O. vulgaris. He also gets O. mercatoris dwarfs. I have kept all of these species and my favorite is O.vulgaris but I love them all.

01/05/2011, 05:45 PM	#1
Monster00101 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: alberta Posts: 858	keeping a octopus. Is there a easy to keep octopus? Are they known to be hardy? Im not sure if this is the right spot for this question but i have always liked them and was thinking of getting one. __________________ Piece of mind is priceless

01/05/2011, 06:02 PM	#2
small alien The fungus is among us. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 3,884	I believe there is a cephalapod forum on RC. I don't think there's an easy octopus. __________________ This moment is all we have. Current Tank Info: 75 mixed reef. F OSFF, Clingfish, M/F Leopards, M Mandy, Darwin Clown, Bullet Goby, Green Clown Goby, M/F Matted Files, Bluestripe Pipe, Tailspot Blenny, Canary Wrasse, Royal Gramma, Papua Toby Puffer, Snooty Maori Wrasse.

01/07/2011, 02:06 PM	#7
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	This thread has been moved to the current forum.... __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

01/08/2011, 05:34 PM	#8
Monster00101 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: alberta Posts: 858	I have a rsm 250 it has a large lid i could weight it down. I could probly order one from my lfs and get them to keep it for a bit just to make sure. How much is the average cost? __________________ Piece of mind is priceless

01/08/2011, 06:23 PM	#9
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	http://www.saltwaterfish.com/Octopus_p_728.html Here is one on saltwaterfish.com for $75 + shipping...I would expect to pay around the same price or a little more locally. __________________ Ryan

01/05/2011, 07:25 PM	#3
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	They don't live very long, usually only a matter of months, and the tank has to be extremely secure because they are escape artists. As small alien said, try the Cephalopod forum here or tonmo.com.

01/05/2011, 07:55 PM	#4
andrewkw Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: St. Joseph Island Posts: 1,069	I would say they are more trying to keep then difficult. I have an octopus briareus. It's a tropical species so I keep the temp at 78-80ish. Some species are colder water and require a chiller. They will likely if not certainly require at least some live food at the start. I feed mine a mixture of live fiddler crabs and frozen grocery store shrimp. I would say they are modestly hardy but poor shippers. They just don't live long. Not in the wild nor in aquariums. Your best bet is to get one young. The only way you can be sure is to see it first. If none of your local reef shops ever get any in you're at the mercy of whatever comes after you order online. You can check out some photos and videos of my guy here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1948657

01/05/2011, 09:04 PM	#5
PDCASU Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 14	What size tank do you keep the Octopus? Great Pics...

01/05/2011, 09:48 PM	#6
andrewkw Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: St. Joseph Island Posts: 1,069	He is in a custom 90 (36x24x24) Probably a 65 would do him but I wouldn't go smaller then that for this species. Even now not fully grown arm to arm he can reach about 20".

01/09/2011, 12:38 PM	#10
Monster00101 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: alberta Posts: 858	Thats a very decent price. i thought they would be around the 500 mark. so other than feeding and actully keeping it in the tank there fairly strait forward? __________________ Piece of mind is priceless

01/09/2011, 12:40 PM	#11
Monster00101 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: alberta Posts: 858	Do they need a tank to themselves? Could u keep one with a large trigger or eel? __________________ Piece of mind is priceless

01/09/2011, 04:16 PM	#13
Monster00101 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: alberta Posts: 858	ok thanks for the help. If i end up orgering one and getting it What should i look for to know i got a healthy one? __________________ Piece of mind is priceless

01/09/2011, 11:59 PM	#15
Lmecher Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,337	I believe SWF is out but they have a waiting list. I just got one from them on Tuesday. They are difficult to ID... to tell their age, very difficult. From SWF we usually see O. hummelincki (caribbean two spot). It is a small octopus which is dinural. This is fantastic because they will spend a lot of time out roaming and hunting in the daylight hours. It has false eyespot (distinguishing) that are usually brown but when it gets angry or very scared will turn blue and yellow. There are several species commonly kept by aquarists. Liveaquaria.com usually has A. aculeatus and divertom.com usually has O. brierus and O. vulgaris. He also gets O. mercatoris dwarfs. I have kept all of these species and my favorite is O.vulgaris but I love them all.

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