SOme info on octos

[Bigvfb12]

I have been reading the threads posted on octos and have been doing a little homework on them and i really want to give it a shot. I have heard mixed reviews(even my mother is trying to perswayed me in the other direction) about octos but want to do it. My 55g has been up for about 8-9 months now. I have a few questions:

1. Will my emporer 280, millineum 2000 and seaclone 150 protein skimmer be good enough filtration?

2. Is 190 watts too much lighting for him?

3. I have 4 corals; Brain, toadstool leather, frogspawn and a hammer head coral. Will they be alright with an Octo?

4. Since all my filtration means are hang-ons, will it be difficult to "seal" up the top on my tank?

5. I have heard some sites say that Ro/di water, what exactly is that?

Those are a couple more than a few, sorry about that, just want to make sure everything is right. Thanks again for the help.

[sideways]

I don't know everything but I will help with what I can.

Originally posted by Bigvfb12
I have been reading the threads posted on octos and have been doing a little homework on them and i really want to give it a shot. I have heard mixed reviews(even my mother is trying to perswayed me in the other direction) about octos but want to do it. My 55g has been up for about 8-9 months now. I have a few questions:

1. Will my emporer 280, millineum 2000 and seaclone 150 protein skimmer be good enough filtration?
-------I dont have experience with these particular products but keep in mind that an octopus produces 3 times the waste of a fish the same size. They also need a lot of oxygen in the water via powerhead or other method.

2. Is 190 watts too much lighting for him?
--------All in all, an octopus, even a day octopus, would be just fine and happy with no lighting, the lighting is mostly for our pleasure. I'm not positive, but this much lighting may drive him nuts, or keep him hiding.

3. I have 4 corals; Brain, toadstool leather, frogspawn and a hammer head coral. Will they be alright with an Octo?
---------I think octos are safe with most corals but they may rearange them for you.

4. Since all my filtration means are hang-ons, will it be difficult to "seal" up the top on my tank?
------------Mine are too. If you get a bimaculoides species(the most popular) you don't have to be too concerned since they rarely try to escape. Remember, I said rarely, not never.

5. I have heard some sites say that Ro/di water, what exactly is that?
------------RO is a process called reverse osmosis and DI is de-ionization. These processes remove harmful elements in the water. Any metals in your tapwater can make an octo sick, or even kill it. Copper in your water will kill it everytime. Good lfs's usually sell RO and you can get DI at Culligan, cost is usually 35 cents/gallon.

Those are a couple more than a few, sorry about that, just want to make sure everything is right. Thanks again for the help.

[pitbullpooch]

from the questions you have asked it sounds like you have not read enough on them yet.i would read as much as you can.good luck.

[Christian Schwalm]

I've owned a couple, one was a blue ring. The blue ring is a miniature octopus and therefore better sized for an aquarium. They also have more brilliant coloration.
My blue ring was pretty active during the day. I think if they're hungry, they don't care what time of day it is. I also think if they have PLENTY of food and good water quality, they won't try to leave the tank.
The sad thing about these is that they don't live very long. The fish shops told me to expect them to live about 6 months; both lived around 9 months. You get more attached to these because of their obvious level of intelligence, as well as their beauty. This makes it tough when they die. When I lost the blue ring I swore I'd never buy another octopus.
By the way, for anyone who doesn't already know, the blue ring is highly venomous. Unless you swim in your aquarium, this shouldn't be an issue.

Christian Schwalm
SkyLab
www.wetdryfilter.com

[ahel]

i do believe it is an issue though... there have been a lot of cases of people being bit by blue rings in aquaria

[Gonodactylus]

Christian,

I really don't want to beat this horse again, but given the number of people who are new to this page, it is probably worth one more go round on blue-rings.

Yes, they are highly venomous and can kill an adult human in a few minutes. A child would die from a bite even more quickly. There is no antedote to TTX. Rescue breathing and ventillation at the ER can save people who have been bitten, but you have only minutes to start treatment and you had better hope that the person giving you pulminary recessitation knows what they are doing. You probably aren't fool enough to handle one, but do you watch your tank every minute when other people are around? Is there never an opportunity for a curious 8 year old to "pet the pretty octopus"?

As for there not crawling out of tanks, I've kept hundreds of H. lunulata and I would say that bout one in 10 decides to try to leave their aquarium. Even though I use tight fitting glass lids, we still lose one now and then. These animals are diurnal and much of the time like to sit on something up off the substrate. In the field this would be algae, but in the aquarium it is usually the tank wall. While this makes them visible, it also makes them accessable.

As for longevity, you had a good run. Most live only a few months. This depends on age when you got them, mating activey, food, and reproduction.

I would strongly urge people to pass on these animals. You may know what you are doing, but is it worth the risk that someone else with access to the tank might not?

Gonodactylus

[Christian Schwalm]

Yeah, I forgot to mention, having some common sense is probably an important part of the equation.

Christian Schwalm
SkyLab
www.wetdryfilter.com