Reef Central Online Community

Home Forum Here you can view your subscribed threads, work with private messages and edit your profile and preferences View New Posts View Today's Posts

Find other members Frequently Asked Questions Search Reefkeeping ...an online magazine for marine aquarists Support our sponsors and mention Reef Central

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community Archives > Invert and Plant Forums > Cephalopods
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08/01/2002, 10:16 PM
deuceman deuceman is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 31
compatability

I'm contemplating setting up an octopus tank, and have a question...

Are there any fish that are compatable with octopus? For example, i was thinking a lionfish or trigger fish.

Thanks,
Deuce
  #2  
Old 08/01/2002, 11:27 PM
jimichonga jimichonga is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Dallas, Tx
Posts: 82
Sorry, but no fish is compatible with an Octo. It will see them as food, so bye bye fishy. It could possibly even get hurt going after a Lionfish, so I wouldn't try that one.

I have a long spined urchin in with my octo and they do fine together. Star-fish are also compatible with an octo, but I wouldn't try a chocolate chip star. I've had 2 of them in my FO tank with no problem, but I've heard horror stories of them attacking fish. I don't think they would hurt an octo, but they could stress it out.
  #3  
Old 08/02/2002, 12:48 AM
deuceman deuceman is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 31
Well thats really too bad to hear. I was really hoping that a larger sized lionfish or trigger might be enough to ward off an octo. Might have to reconsider.

As far as the chocolate chip starfish goes, I had one for a while, and he never caused any problems with my fish. The problem was after I introduced corals to the tank, he seemed determined to try and snack on my hammer coral. It was actually sort of funny to watch. He would try to crawl on the coral, and get stung, making him curl up for half an hour or so. Then he would seem to forget that he got stung, apparently star fish half a short term memeory, anf try again...didnt take much of this to make me decide to return him to the pet store.

I'm still going to concider the octo tank, because i really am interested in them, but might have to re-design it now...

Thanks for the info,
Deuce.
  #4  
Old 08/02/2002, 11:55 AM
jimichonga jimichonga is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Dallas, Tx
Posts: 82
Just to give you a taste on how aggressive these "suckers" are, here is a link to a video of an Octo at the Seattle Aquarium.
If you don't have the ability to watch it Ill sum it up for you:

They moved their Octo into another (larger) tank that housed sharks and other large fish, thinking it would be safe. But something strange happened, about once a week they were finding 3-4 foot long, dead sharks on the bottom of the aquarium. So they had an employee stay up one night to film what was taking place. (link below) The film shows the Octo stocking and then attacking/wrestling a large shark. The comment at the end of the clip pretty much sums it up, " Gives new meaning to top predator"

You'll need RealPlayer to watch the video. http://www.real.com/

56K:
http://video.pbs.org:8080/ramgen/wne...tplay=shark.rm

DSL:
http://video.pbs.org:8080/ramgen/wne...lay=sharkT1.rm
  #5  
Old 08/04/2002, 08:15 PM
Death Shrimp99 Death Shrimp99 is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 248
Do you think it would be possible to put a fast fish that stays at the top of the tank? because it seems hard for an octo to catch a fish high in mid-water.
__________________
There are 3 kinds of people: those who can count and those who can't.
Looking for a helping hand? There's one on your arm.
I would like to help you out. Which way did you come in?
  #6  
Old 08/04/2002, 10:46 PM
jimichonga jimichonga is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Dallas, Tx
Posts: 82
My octo has no trouble catching fish where ever they are. He'll launch himself from the sand and snag the fish at the surface of the water with no problem. They may seem slow, but trust me they're not.
  #7  
Old 08/05/2002, 08:47 AM
joeyd joeyd is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 66
just curious......how 'bout anemones in an octo tank? other than the stinging possibility, they should be compatible right?
  #8  
Old 08/05/2002, 08:54 AM
joeyd joeyd is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 66
just curious......how 'bout anemones in an octo tank? other than the stinging possibility, they should be compatible right?
  #9  
Old 08/05/2002, 10:29 AM
SushiGirl SushiGirl is offline
Premium Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Garland, TX USA
Posts: 960
Most anemones need good lighting also, using photosynthesis to feed. Anemones are also usually hard to keep alive. I did see some rather large anemones in an octo tank at an aquarium, but the octos were also quite large and these were all cold water species.
 


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:52 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef Central™ Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2009