octopus

[OrionGirl]

Here's how we setup the 29:

Use live rock for filtration--much easier. Have some mechanical filtration and the ability for chemical filtration--a canister is best. Then have the glass cover cut for the tank. Have two holes drilled--you want the intake and return lines to pass through these holes tightly. We siliconed the lines in ours--worked better. You want 2 pieces of glass for the cover--one to remove for maintenance and feeding, the other remains fixed with the plumbing. Ditto for anything else you want in there--cords for heater, powerhead, etc. Make sure all of these things have covers--don't want curious octo tentacles checking out the inside of a powerhead! You can use nylons to cover all openings to keep this from happening. Other option--setup a sump for most of this, and have the return pipe provide all water movement. Works just as well, and is safer for the octo.

We ran a single bulb NO strip light on this tank, only had it come on a few hours each day.

 

[Aquatick]

My thought on this matter is rather different. You sound rushed to acuire something that you're not really preparred to handle. Why not wait until you have set up the aquarium you intend to set up? You can always find another one or have the store order one for you. I'm sorry, but in most cases where the person rushes and creates a holding tank, the animal suffers and more often than not....dies. Don't be selfish, be patient and build him a proper home!

 

[wastememphis]

If I was rushed into it, id already have it, but i don't. Thats why I'm active in the forum. I know alot about them, I just had questions. I'd buy the octo on-line anyway, they are captive bred and seem to be the most successful kept. Forums aren't used to tell people they're selfish for asking about something. I would wait till I had the larger tank cycled I was just asking about keeping it in a 10gallon, which is very possible, thanks tho.

 

[Aquatick]

I didn't say it was impossible, I just think it would be better to provide him with a proper home. Unfortunately I have seen a lot of octopi die in captivity because people didn't know how to take care of them. Not that you don't, just saying. I used to import and export tropicalfish all over the world and from talking to many sources octopus didn't seem to fare very well.

As for the problem of inking...I wouldn't worry about it too much. I've only ever see one actually do it and it disipated without problems. Granted he was a little fella, but I doubt you're looking to pick up any of the large species. At any rate, if your going to get one, just make sure he's in a healthy invironment. The smaller the tank the harder they are to regulate. Something goes wrong and everything dies much faster....

 

[Cearbhaill]

I still think you need to spend lots more time over at the octopus forums.
I've been researching the bimacs as well as briareus, as I will have an empty 90 gallon available soon.
They recommend nothing less than a 50g for bimacs.
Story after story of folks "planning to upgrade" as the animal grows and not following through.
I think the 10g idea is absurd when you consider the amount of waste these animals produce.

 

[wastememphis]

I have asked in the cephlapod forum at reefcentral and at tonmo.com, i was going to have a 55gallon selfdrilled tank with seald glass lid, sump/planted refugim. I also did this research a in december, I just never followed through to getting the bigger tank. I was just saying the 10gallon since there was one at my local store and that rarely happens, I'm pretty sure the octo they had wasn't eating, and as far as I know they sold it to someone, but it wasn't eating for the 4days I was in there. (I like to lurk around those sites and read all the posts ) What light fixtures would be good, I was thinking low watt attnic strip and some red bulbs. Would the red lighting affect the octopus.