Were to get a Dwarf Octopus

SWaquariast · 07/31/2008, 04:01 PM

I am wanting to get a dwarf octopus or cuttle fish.

Where can I get one?

How big of tank do they/one need?

How to seel lid properly?

Animal Mother · 07/31/2008, 07:04 PM

TONMO.com would be a good place to start. There are people there who are breeding/have bred dwarf cuttlefish and dwarf octopuses.

I would seriously suggest not getting a dwarf octopus. They do not typically exhibit the behaviors that make octopuses an interesting pet. They are very shy and STRICTLY nocturnal, meaning, you won't see it unless you stay up late at night, and only with all the lights turned off. You can use a red light to view them if you decide you just really want one anyway. I got a dwarf as my first pet octopus and it was really boring. If you can get several siblings, you might have better luck seeing them out at night. Otherwise they will constantly hide if they know you are around.

Go for a 55 gallon tank or bigger. Then you can keep one of the medium sized octos (which are still pretty small). You'll need 3x the filtration of the tank, so aim for a skimmer designed for a 150 gallon tank.

There are several websites that sell them. Saltwaterfish.com, Liveaquaria.com, marinedepotlive.com etc.

I use a window screen repair kit to seal the tank. Cut it to fit around the equipment and cover the top with a few inches hanging over the sides, then use duct tape to seal it to the tank. Not very pretty, but it does the job. You'll be using LOTS of duct tape as it's necessary to replace it every time it gets wet.

Good luck!

gholland · 08/01/2008, 11:43 AM

Here's the list of pros and cons for dwarf octos again...

Pros and cons of keeping O. mercatoris (Atlantic/Gulf pygmy octopus).

Pros:
1. Smaller tank requirements than larger octopuses.
2. Sometimes possible to keep more than one in a tank.
3. Less likely to crawl out of tank than larger octopuses.
4. Eat less than larger octopuses.
5. Lay relatively large eggs. Hatchlings are not cannibalistic or planktonic. (Not true for all dwarf/pygmy species.)

Cons:
1. Nocturnal, but will venture out under red lighting.
2. Much less interactive than other octopuses.
3. Limited changes in color/texture compared to diurnal octopuses.
4. Life span may be shorter than larger octopuses.

Links to a couple of octopus journals on TONMO to compare dwarfs (mercatoris) with larger species (briareus and hummelincki):
1. Trapperâ€™s babies (O. mercatoris) http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10133
2. Varysâ€™ babies (O. mercatoris) http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12919
3. Kalypso (O. briareus) http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12145
4. Octane (O. hummelincki) http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12191
5. Grove (A. aculeatus) http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13825

If you really want a merc instead of the others listed above, check with Sealifeinc.com. Mercs availability can be seasonal. I would go with a 20-30 gallon tank, but you'll have to watch the water quality closely.

If you want a dwarf cuttlefish, they will have their own pros and cons... can't speak for them. Read up on them at TONMO.com

07/31/2008, 04:01 PM	#1
SWaquariast Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 745	Were to get a Dwarf Octopus I am wanting to get a dwarf octopus or cuttle fish. Where can I get one? How big of tank do they/one need? How to seel lid properly? __________________ Mitch Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed reef aquarium.

07/31/2008, 07:04 PM	#2
Animal Mother Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 452	TONMO.com would be a good place to start. There are people there who are breeding/have bred dwarf cuttlefish and dwarf octopuses. I would seriously suggest not getting a dwarf octopus. They do not typically exhibit the behaviors that make octopuses an interesting pet. They are very shy and STRICTLY nocturnal, meaning, you won't see it unless you stay up late at night, and only with all the lights turned off. You can use a red light to view them if you decide you just really want one anyway. I got a dwarf as my first pet octopus and it was really boring. If you can get several siblings, you might have better luck seeing them out at night. Otherwise they will constantly hide if they know you are around. Go for a 55 gallon tank or bigger. Then you can keep one of the medium sized octos (which are still pretty small). You'll need 3x the filtration of the tank, so aim for a skimmer designed for a 150 gallon tank. There are several websites that sell them. Saltwaterfish.com, Liveaquaria.com, marinedepotlive.com etc. I use a window screen repair kit to seal the tank. Cut it to fit around the equipment and cover the top with a few inches hanging over the sides, then use duct tape to seal it to the tank. Not very pretty, but it does the job. You'll be using LOTS of duct tape as it's necessary to replace it every time it gets wet. Good luck! __________________ "You might not believe it but under fire Animal Mother is one of the finest human beings in the world. All he needs is someone to throw hand grenades at him for the rest of his life." - Full Metal Jacket Current Tank Info: 60 gallon cube, w/ 30 gallon sump, octopus-proof lid. Dry for now.

08/01/2008, 11:43 AM	#3
gholland Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 238	Here's the list of pros and cons for dwarf octos again... Pros and cons of keeping O. mercatoris (Atlantic/Gulf pygmy octopus). Pros: 1. Smaller tank requirements than larger octopuses. 2. Sometimes possible to keep more than one in a tank. 3. Less likely to crawl out of tank than larger octopuses. 4. Eat less than larger octopuses. 5. Lay relatively large eggs. Hatchlings are not cannibalistic or planktonic. (Not true for all dwarf/pygmy species.) Cons: 1. Nocturnal, but will venture out under red lighting. 2. Much less interactive than other octopuses. 3. Limited changes in color/texture compared to diurnal octopuses. 4. Life span may be shorter than larger octopuses. Links to a couple of octopus journals on TONMO to compare dwarfs (mercatoris) with larger species (briareus and hummelincki): 1. Trapperâ€™s babies (O. mercatoris) http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10133 2. Varysâ€™ babies (O. mercatoris) http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12919 3. Kalypso (O. briareus) http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12145 4. Octane (O. hummelincki) http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12191 5. Grove (A. aculeatus) http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13825 If you really want a merc instead of the others listed above, check with Sealifeinc.com. Mercs availability can be seasonal. I would go with a 20-30 gallon tank, but you'll have to watch the water quality closely. If you want a dwarf cuttlefish, they will have their own pros and cons... can't speak for them. Read up on them at TONMO.com