keeping and octopus?

danthefishman · #1 09/11/2005, 02:31 AM

Has anyone been abel to keep an octopus (without) a lid on there tank? I have a reef tank i was thinking an octopus would be an interesting member to it. I know they eat crustaceans, but its not a problem as i always could collect crabs from rock pools near my home. Does anyone have any knowledge?

iCam · #2 09/11/2005, 02:37 AM

Visit the Cephalopod forum:

Cephalopods

I would say that you can't. They are intelligent animals, and will escape, as will eels, without a tight-fitting cover.

I probably wouldn't keep an octupus in a reef tank. It is likely to knock corals around, and could eat any fish that you have. It would be better to keep it in a specialized tank, just for it.

Aside from that, they don't live very long.

JohnHenry · #3 09/11/2005, 04:38 AM

Also, most octopii prefer colder water temps, and require extremely well-maintained water quality.

Ochi · #4 09/11/2005, 08:14 AM

Vulgaris and Bimacs are more tropical, but still not 85 degrees.

They need a solid lid that is latched down so they can't open it by themselves.

They can lift up glass lids and slide out.

And they eat everything, fish, shrimp, sometimes corals, everything. You can't outsmart them.

They need amazing water quality and are very very sensitive.