"pacific" octopus

[BrianRPrice]

For those who want a *real* challenge, Fish Gallery had a *small* octopus for sale, $25--priced that way because they are such amazing escape artists.

Definitely not for the unprepared; water conditions must be just so, and the tank must be escape and octo proof (covers on all intakes, lock down top, etc.).

But it is a rare opportunity, for someone who is ready and waiting...

They had him in a specimen box, but he'd burrowed under the small piece of live rock in the box, so sadly I didn't get to see him...

Not familiar with a small Pacific octo--and couldn't see him, so couldn't help with ID...

[Austin]

Oh hell, don't tempt me...

[kleankord]

if my salt tank was ready to go, id be there TODAY. My gf wants an octopus every since we saw one at DNA

[k20z3]

I remember reading somewhere that a lot of the small octopus don't live very long in the wild (some less than a year), and are pretty hard to keep alive in aquariums.

I do think it would be really cool to have one and be able to keep it alive and thriving longterm though!

[BrianRPrice]

K20,

Yes, the smaller varieties (other than Vulgaris) live from 1-2 years in the wild *and* in tanks, so they are short-lived companions. But yes, WAY cool...love to try one, once we get our fish-legs back under us.

[pam916]

I have kept them. They are very cool. They do not have a long life span and you rarely know how old they are when you get them. If you happen to get a female and she lays eggs then she will not eat again and starve to death. I think they are one of the most interesting creatures you can keep in an aquarium. Here is an interesting site for octopus keeping experiences:
http://www.tonmo.com/


http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195385&highlight=octopus

[DDA]

i bought one from h-mart (carrollton) for $17, dead after a week

[BrianRPrice]

@Pam - Yes, you are right on all counts. They do live only a short time, and you can't tell how old they are when you get them, so it's hard to say whether its the tank conditions or the age that kills them. An exception is Vulgaris, which can live for 2-3 years.

And TONMO is the best site for cephlapods (I'm a member!). In fact, one of the principals over there, Nancy King, is I believe local to the DFW area and has co-authored an excllent book on keeping them, entitled "Cephlapods: Octopuses and Cuttlefishes for the Home Aquarium".

The TONMO site is HIGHLY recommended for anyone who wants to try, lots and lots of information. The book is also good, and has a positive, encouraging spin which is sometimes lacking in some of the posts.

[1badbluehb]

From what I understand, Octopuses are extremely difficult to contain in a tank.

[pam916]

They are known to be escape artist. That is one reason among many others that anyone who is thinking about getting one should do lots of research.

[BrianRPrice]

They are known to be escape artist. That is one reason among many others that anyone who is thinking about getting one should do lots of research.

Houdini-level escape artists! :-)

You have to not only cover things like filter inlets, outlets, and the like, but the top should ideally bolt down. They are strong little buggers, and SMART.

Going to do one, in a few years.

For research, check out the aforementioned CEPHLAPOD book and the TOMO site.

[Padronis]

I have a friend that had an octopus. He said it pretty much stayed hidden until feeding and it would just come out and devour its food. He said it was a really cool sight. If you can keep the bugger in its home I think it would be really cool if only to watch them eat.

[kleankord]

yeah. we are definitely getting one, but first need to practice just keeping a salt tank.

[bluenautilus2]

if my salt tank was ready to go, id be there TODAY. My gf wants an octopus every since we saw one at DNA

I saw that octopus! Was it the one they stuck in a hamster ball?

[backinaction365]

When I kept SW tanks in New Orleans,I had my run ins with them.Bought one $50,he was in a specimen contaner in the tank,got him home ,all tops secured,30 minutes "GONE",went back bought another, $50 again,got him home,taped all the openings(duct tape),1 hour later "GONE",sucker for sure,next day went and got another,$50 again,taped,put blocks on top of covers inlet tubes,everything.looked next day...empty...I gave up after that

[Deltad]

When I kept SW tanks in New Orleans,I had my run ins with them.Bought one $50,he was in a specimen contaner in the tank,got him home ,all tops secured,30 minutes "GONE",went back bought another, $50 again,got him home,taped all the openings(duct tape),1 hour later "GONE",sucker for sure,next day went and got another,$50 again,taped,put blocks on top of covers inlet tubes,everything.looked next day...empty...I gave up after that

LOL, that is hilarious... how did it disappear...? it was strong enough to push through the top?

[bluenautilus2]

When I kept SW tanks in New Orleans,I had my run ins with them.Bought one $50,he was in a specimen contaner in the tank,got him home ,all tops secured,30 minutes "GONE",went back bought another, $50 again,got him home,taped all the openings(duct tape),1 hour later "GONE",sucker for sure,next day went and got another,$50 again,taped,put blocks on top of covers inlet tubes,everything.looked next day...empty...I gave up after that

Where did the Octopus go?

[kleankord]

danggg. 150... that was a great story though. and yeah in the hamster ball.

[Craydaddy]

Pacific Octopi are the biggest ones out there. They get pretty big, they're really strong and their beak can tear a crab or oyster or what have in no time. They generally live a max of three years and are extremely smart. The only way I've ever seen em kept was in large aquarium i.e. Dallas and Vancouver, B.C. IMO, not a good idea, but that's just me

[ANBU]

I read somewhere that they didn't try to cover the top if the tank because once the octopus is out and know there is no water around they will come back in the tank and won't try to escape. lol On another reading somewhere I read this person had 2 tanks beside each other one is for the octopus and the other for his salt water fishes one day he look at his tank his fishes disappear but the octopus is sill in his tank. lol