Thinking of Getting an Octo-How Hard?

Wakeaholic · 03/13/2003, 11:14 PM

I just got a tank a couple weeks ago and pretty much the whole reason I wanted to get a SW aquarium was to keep an octopus. I've been doing alot of reading, mostly on general reefkeeping topics but some on octopuses, and have seen that is is very hard to keep them. I have a 40g breeder tank which will eventually have ample live rock and about an inch and a half of live sand. I know I have to let my tank cycle for about 3 months and was wondering if it would be a good idea to get an octo then. I have always been fascinated with marine biology and biology in general (after all, I'm majoring in genetics so I should have some interest hopefully). The octopus has always amazed me and the idea of having one of my own is unbelievable. However, I don't want to get one if I can't properly care for it, the last thing I want to do is kill one of these magnificant creatures. So I wanted to know exactly how hard they are to keep. Please let me know so I don't end up making a mistake and causing harm to something so brilliant. Thanks.

sideways · 03/14/2003, 09:40 AM

Hi, I don't have one yet, my tank is cycled but I'm letting it season a bit more before I put one in. So I won't talk like I have personal experience on this subject, but, I have found that usually the people who say they are too hard to keep or not worth the effort...have never owned one! I'm sure you'll get several responses from octo keepers and they'll probably all say this. They're a bit demanding but WELL worth the effort. If you wan't one, go for it! Don't take advice from the lfs or a book, just listen to the people in this forum and they will steer you straight. Good luck with your adventure!
John
ps. Reef tanks with live corals are also hard to keep, but there's a million people successfully doing it!

Energy · 03/15/2003, 02:53 AM

My first experience in saltwater was geared toward keeping an octopus. With no past saltwater experience period, I dove in and set up my octo tank. With lots of research I finally purchased my first pet. It survived and hooked me on Ceph's ever since. It isn't unreasonable to be succesful with an Octopus and no past experience. Approach your water parameters carefully, before buying your pet. Maybe test the tank with some shrimp or other critters before hand. You can leave them in for the octo to have some food.

cephalopoder · 03/15/2003, 07:52 AM

Octopuses were the reason a lot of us got into saltwater. So it can be done. Just read alot of the back posts,most of your questions are coverd there. A 40 breeder would be fine and I would boost tyou live sand to about 4 inches. Cycle for at least 3 months and make sure you use ro/di water or di water at the very least.

03/13/2003, 11:14 PM	#1
Wakeaholic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gainesville Posts: 138	Thinking of Getting an Octo-How Hard? I just got a tank a couple weeks ago and pretty much the whole reason I wanted to get a SW aquarium was to keep an octopus. I've been doing alot of reading, mostly on general reefkeeping topics but some on octopuses, and have seen that is is very hard to keep them. I have a 40g breeder tank which will eventually have ample live rock and about an inch and a half of live sand. I know I have to let my tank cycle for about 3 months and was wondering if it would be a good idea to get an octo then. I have always been fascinated with marine biology and biology in general (after all, I'm majoring in genetics so I should have some interest hopefully). The octopus has always amazed me and the idea of having one of my own is unbelievable. However, I don't want to get one if I can't properly care for it, the last thing I want to do is kill one of these magnificant creatures. So I wanted to know exactly how hard they are to keep. Please let me know so I don't end up making a mistake and causing harm to something so brilliant. Thanks.

03/14/2003, 09:40 AM	#2
sideways Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Swansboro N.C. Posts: 95	Hi, I don't have one yet, my tank is cycled but I'm letting it season a bit more before I put one in. So I won't talk like I have personal experience on this subject, but, I have found that usually the people who say they are too hard to keep or not worth the effort...have never owned one! I'm sure you'll get several responses from octo keepers and they'll probably all say this. They're a bit demanding but WELL worth the effort. If you wan't one, go for it! Don't take advice from the lfs or a book, just listen to the people in this forum and they will steer you straight. Good luck with your adventure! John ps. Reef tanks with live corals are also hard to keep, but there's a million people successfully doing it! __________________ Paradise by the dashboard light... Current Tank Info: At home: 20g FOWLR, 50g FOWLR, 46g bowfront FW... At work: Sea Nettles, Moon Jellies, 1300g lionfish and 11,000g FW

03/15/2003, 02:53 AM	#3
Energy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mendota Heights,MN Posts: 411	Been there Done That My first experience in saltwater was geared toward keeping an octopus. With no past saltwater experience period, I dove in and set up my octo tank. With lots of research I finally purchased my first pet. It survived and hooked me on Ceph's ever since. It isn't unreasonable to be succesful with an Octopus and no past experience. Approach your water parameters carefully, before buying your pet. Maybe test the tank with some shrimp or other critters before hand. You can leave them in for the octo to have some food.

03/15/2003, 07:52 AM	#4
cephalopoder Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NH Posts: 898	Octopuses were the reason a lot of us got into saltwater. So it can be done. Just read alot of the back posts,most of your questions are coverd there. A 40 breeder would be fine and I would boost tyou live sand to about 4 inches. Cycle for at least 3 months and make sure you use ro/di water or di water at the very least. __________________ Master the food chain and you can rear anything.