they are awesome creatures.
i'm not sure if raising an octopus/cuttlefish in a small tank is a good idea. you might want to check out
http://www.tonmo.com/cephcare/keepingcephs/keepingcephs.php
before you get one.
"Tank Requirements
1. Size matters
The aquarium should be as large as possible for the species that you intend to keep. The minimum size should be at least 36x18x18 (inches) to be used for small octopus species and as big as you can get after that.
Most cephalopods lead a solitary life and cannibalism is very common so it’s best to keep only one per tank.
If possible use an aquarium with a sump. This protects all your equipment and reduces the different paths of escape quite significantly. The hood of the aquarium needs to be very tightly fitted. Even species that are not prone to climbing out have been known to try.
2. Water Parameters and Quality
Cephalopods have soft bodies and are essentially naked (except the nautilus that has an external shell). They have a huge surface area and therefore are very sensitive to water quality and pollutants like ammonia and nitrite, which should all be kept at zero. Nitrates seem to be tolerated to 50 - 100ppm with no apparent ill effects.
Copper is lethal and should be tested for before the octopus is added to an aquarium. Treat them like all other invertebrates in this respect.
An octopus produces approximately three times more ammonia than a fish of a similar mass; partly due to it’s having three hearts and therefore three times the oxygen requirement of fish. As a result oxygen levels should always be kept as high as possible. To do this (and to remove all the excess waste) always use oversized filters and skimmers. When an octopus feels threatened it may eject viscous ink as a smoke screen. Although it is not poisonous it can and will coat gills and this may lead to asphyxiation. The ink can often be removed by catching it in a fine net but protein skimmers and good quality carbon is a must have! Always work slowly to avoid startling a new octopus.
Salinity is the other water quality parameter that must be controlled carefully. It is of paramount importance that the octopus aquarium has full strength seawater. Aim for 1.026 at all times, a lower salinity will kill them.
PH must be kept between 8 and 8.4 and it is always worthwhile to do a 25% water change on a fortnightly basis. Remember they do produce a lot of waste!"
anyways, if you do get one, i'd love to hear your octopus stories!
i'm not sure if raising an octopus/cuttlefish in a small tank is a good idea. you might want to check out
http://www.tonmo.com/cephcare/keepingcephs/keepingcephs.php
before you get one.
"Tank Requirements
1. Size matters
The aquarium should be as large as possible for the species that you intend to keep. The minimum size should be at least 36x18x18 (inches) to be used for small octopus species and as big as you can get after that.
Most cephalopods lead a solitary life and cannibalism is very common so it’s best to keep only one per tank.
If possible use an aquarium with a sump. This protects all your equipment and reduces the different paths of escape quite significantly. The hood of the aquarium needs to be very tightly fitted. Even species that are not prone to climbing out have been known to try.
2. Water Parameters and Quality
Cephalopods have soft bodies and are essentially naked (except the nautilus that has an external shell). They have a huge surface area and therefore are very sensitive to water quality and pollutants like ammonia and nitrite, which should all be kept at zero. Nitrates seem to be tolerated to 50 - 100ppm with no apparent ill effects.
Copper is lethal and should be tested for before the octopus is added to an aquarium. Treat them like all other invertebrates in this respect.
An octopus produces approximately three times more ammonia than a fish of a similar mass; partly due to it’s having three hearts and therefore three times the oxygen requirement of fish. As a result oxygen levels should always be kept as high as possible. To do this (and to remove all the excess waste) always use oversized filters and skimmers. When an octopus feels threatened it may eject viscous ink as a smoke screen. Although it is not poisonous it can and will coat gills and this may lead to asphyxiation. The ink can often be removed by catching it in a fine net but protein skimmers and good quality carbon is a must have! Always work slowly to avoid startling a new octopus.
Salinity is the other water quality parameter that must be controlled carefully. It is of paramount importance that the octopus aquarium has full strength seawater. Aim for 1.026 at all times, a lower salinity will kill them.
PH must be kept between 8 and 8.4 and it is always worthwhile to do a 25% water change on a fortnightly basis. Remember they do produce a lot of waste!"
anyways, if you do get one, i'd love to hear your octopus stories!
I guess there are some distinct advantages when you're an invertebrate.