Newbie with an interesting hitchhiker

terebear · 01/21/2010, 08:03 AM

So I'm new to the saltwater hobby. I've had fresh water tanks before but always wanted to try salt. My husband surprised me with a 14 gallon Biocube for my birthday and we are slowly setting it up. I ordered live rock and sand from Tampa Bay Saltwater and everything has cycled through and I think is doing pretty well. So far in the tank I only have the cleaning crew (serpent star, cucumber, snails and hermit crabs) along with a bunch of other little hitchhiker crabs. We did discover a good sized gorrila crab and in the process of getting him out found out that we had another hitchhiker we didn't know about...a small octopus. He's been hiding in a piece of the live rock for the last two weeks and we never saw him. Since I've know he was there I've been trying to check him out but he won't come out. I finally saw a little more of him last night and I think his tentacles are about an inch long and the little suckers on them are about the size of a head of a pin and his body seemed to be a reddish brown color. Everything I've been reading says to get him out but I would like to keep him if he's small enough that he's not going to eat everyone or cause a lot of damage. Any reccomendations on what to do about him or how to keep him happy?

thebkramer · 01/21/2010, 08:09 AM

Thats really cool! Can you get a pic??
IMO...he should go back on the reef

Hope some of the "seasoned" aquarists can help you with info!

spleify · 01/21/2010, 08:16 AM

To Reef Central

I would probably recommend also that you take it out, and try and trade it to another local reefer, or see if one of your LFS will give you some credit for it. I would probably remove the gorilla crab too.

HTH

Good luck

terebear · 01/21/2010, 09:09 AM

The gorrilla crab is out...finally! There really isn't much to take a picture of with the octopus. He is hiding in his rock and is holding up a piece of shell to hide himself as much as possible. I know he is moving around at night because he will have more stones and shell in his hiding space to hide behind every morning. Any reccomendations on how to get him out of his hiding space or what to feed him and how if I do decide to keep him around? Is a octopus that small able to eat my hermit crabs?

fishstick3 · 01/21/2010, 10:00 AM

I am new at this too and have a little 12 gallon.
The people at my LFS tried to sell me an octopus, and I have a even smaller tank. They told me to keep an octopus you would have to basically have the tank set up entirely for him since even at such a small size they will eat everything in your tank including your hermit crabs. And that he would quickly outgrow my tank.
Also one other thing they often like to do is escape from the top, one of the guys told me a story about his octo that would squirt him with water everytime he passed without food.
They are incredbly smart and will find ways out

If you decided to get rid of him because you want other fish, you could always set him free, since you are a floridian as well, not as fun as getting money for him but he would appreciate it

either way best of luck

Shane Hoffman · 01/21/2010, 10:01 AM

An octopus will quickly become a voracious inhabitant. He will eat anything and everything in your tank. Also in the mean tim make sure your tank is impossible to open and that all openings (even if the opening appears to small for the octo to get out of) are coveres. Octopus are escape artisists, and can twist, contort, strech, and shrink their bodies to get through almost any hole that a leg can get through.

Crustman · 01/21/2010, 10:01 AM

You may have a Octopus joubini. These are very shy and you may not see it much. You might want to give it to your pet store. If you have an Octopus vulgaris, you should see it more. The octopus will kill all your crustaceans and go after your fish at night.

terebear · 01/21/2010, 02:03 PM

Any reccomendations as to how to get him out? I don't want to hurt him, I would prefer to take him to my LFS.

romsoccer12 · 01/21/2010, 02:17 PM

try making some traps, look on google.
if you want to keep him though, you must make it a species tank for him. i realyl think you could pull it off though, octopi are really interesting species and can make a awesome tankmate. make sure there is no way to escape inthe tank, or get sucked into a powerhead. keep the rocks really secure.
rule of thumb. octopi either eat it or get eaten by it. you could keep a reef tank with it though.

thebkramer · 01/21/2010, 02:37 PM

If hes hiding in an actual rock...take the rock back to LFS let him go along for the ride

aquadonkey · 01/21/2010, 02:48 PM

Sooooo Jealous! Please please - try to get a pic or video!
You know, this is your excuse to have an octopus as a pet!
They don't have a long life-span, but are supposed to be very interesting and attached to their owners. So you can have this great experience, then continue with your tank plans in a year or two. - Or just get another tank

Do a lot of research though!
I've read about the short life-span, but haven't been able to establish if this is only in captivity, or in the wild as well... something to consider -

stubby 58 · 01/21/2010, 02:57 PM

This is so awesome I have always wanted one but know I would probably not do it right and lose it .

stubby

ScarletReef · 01/21/2010, 05:20 PM

There is an octopus care specific forum on RC. One of the threads there is titled 'My best hitch hiker is a octopus' or something to that effect. You should check it out. Either way, very neat!

Elysia · 01/22/2010, 04:47 PM

Thank you for not releasing this animal into the wild -- that is a horrible suggestion. Things that are in our tanks, mixed with no-native animals, should never be released into the ocean. You don't even know for sure that the rock in question is FL cultured live rock.

You could keep your hitchhiking octo, as long as you kept it fed and the water well oxygenated and the tank sealed so that it can not escape.

01/21/2010, 08:03 AM	#1
terebear Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 4	Newbie with an interesting hitchhiker So I'm new to the saltwater hobby. I've had fresh water tanks before but always wanted to try salt. My husband surprised me with a 14 gallon Biocube for my birthday and we are slowly setting it up. I ordered live rock and sand from Tampa Bay Saltwater and everything has cycled through and I think is doing pretty well. So far in the tank I only have the cleaning crew (serpent star, cucumber, snails and hermit crabs) along with a bunch of other little hitchhiker crabs. We did discover a good sized gorrila crab and in the process of getting him out found out that we had another hitchhiker we didn't know about...a small octopus. He's been hiding in a piece of the live rock for the last two weeks and we never saw him. Since I've know he was there I've been trying to check him out but he won't come out. I finally saw a little more of him last night and I think his tentacles are about an inch long and the little suckers on them are about the size of a head of a pin and his body seemed to be a reddish brown color. Everything I've been reading says to get him out but I would like to keep him if he's small enough that he's not going to eat everyone or cause a lot of damage. Any reccomendations on what to do about him or how to keep him happy?

01/21/2010, 08:16 AM	#3
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	*To Reef Central* I would probably recommend also that you take it out, and try and trade it to another local reefer, or see if one of your LFS will give you some credit for it. I would probably remove the gorilla crab too. HTH Good luck __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

01/21/2010, 10:01 AM	#6
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	An octopus will quickly become a voracious inhabitant. He will eat anything and everything in your tank. Also in the mean tim make sure your tank is impossible to open and that all openings (even if the opening appears to small for the octo to get out of) are coveres. Octopus are escape artisists, and can twist, contort, strech, and shrink their bodies to get through almost any hole that a leg can get through. __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

01/21/2010, 10:01 AM	#7
Crustman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 941	You may have a Octopus joubini. These are very shy and you may not see it much. You might want to give it to your pet store. If you have an Octopus vulgaris, you should see it more. The octopus will kill all your crustaceans and go after your fish at night. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: 65 gallon reef with 8 T-5's, ATI Blue Plus, Blue Special, KZ Fiji Purple, Vertex IN 100, phosphate and carbon reactor Coralife Turbo Sea Pump

01/21/2010, 02:17 PM	#9
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	try making some traps, look on google. if you want to keep him though, you must make it a species tank for him. i realyl think you could pull it off though, octopi are really interesting species and can make a awesome tankmate. make sure there is no way to escape inthe tank, or get sucked into a powerhead. keep the rocks really secure. rule of thumb. octopi either eat it or get eaten by it. you could keep a reef tank with it though. __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old

01/21/2010, 08:09 AM	#2
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	Thats really cool! Can you get a pic?? IMO...he should go back on the reef Hope some of the "seasoned" aquarists can help you with info!

01/21/2010, 09:09 AM	#4
terebear Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 4	The gorrilla crab is out...finally! There really isn't much to take a picture of with the octopus. He is hiding in his rock and is holding up a piece of shell to hide himself as much as possible. I know he is moving around at night because he will have more stones and shell in his hiding space to hide behind every morning. Any reccomendations on how to get him out of his hiding space or what to feed him and how if I do decide to keep him around? Is a octopus that small able to eat my hermit crabs?

01/21/2010, 10:00 AM	#5
fishstick3 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South FL Posts: 244	I am new at this too and have a little 12 gallon. The people at my LFS tried to sell me an octopus, and I have a even smaller tank. They told me to keep an octopus you would have to basically have the tank set up entirely for him since even at such a small size they will eat everything in your tank including your hermit crabs. And that he would quickly outgrow my tank. Also one other thing they often like to do is escape from the top, one of the guys told me a story about his octo that would squirt him with water everytime he passed without food. They are incredbly smart and will find ways out If you decided to get rid of him because you want other fish, you could always set him free, since you are a floridian as well, not as fun as getting money for him but he would appreciate it either way best of luck

01/21/2010, 02:03 PM	#8
terebear Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 4	Any reccomendations as to how to get him out? I don't want to hurt him, I would prefer to take him to my LFS.

01/21/2010, 02:37 PM	#10
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	If hes hiding in an actual rock...take the rock back to LFS let him go along for the ride

01/21/2010, 02:48 PM	#11
aquadonkey Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 1,253	Sooooo Jealous! Please please - try to get a pic or video! You know, this is your excuse to have an octopus as a pet! They don't have a long life-span, but are supposed to be very interesting and attached to their owners. So you can have this great experience, then continue with your tank plans in a year or two. - Or just get another tank Do a lot of research though! I've read about the short life-span, but haven't been able to establish if this is only in captivity, or in the wild as well... something to consider -

01/21/2010, 02:57 PM	#12
stubby 58 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ama TX Posts: 217	This is so awesome I have always wanted one but know I would probably not do it right and lose it . stubby

01/21/2010, 05:20 PM	#13
ScarletReef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 227	There is an octopus care specific forum on RC. One of the threads there is titled 'My best hitch hiker is a octopus' or something to that effect. You should check it out. Either way, very neat!

01/22/2010, 04:47 PM	#14
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	Thank you for not releasing this animal into the wild -- that is a horrible suggestion. Things that are in our tanks, mixed with no-native animals, should never be released into the ocean. You don't even know for sure that the rock in question is FL cultured live rock. You could keep your hitchhiking octo, as long as you kept it fed and the water well oxygenated and the tank sealed so that it can not escape.