Meet Thomas

[Black96WS6]

Sorry for the low quality images. I turned the flash off so as not to startle him. In a couple weeks after he's settled in I will get some better shots.

Thomas's tank, consisting of live rock, and various other items (yes, that is a hamster tunnel loop, a pink pottery vase, white pvc pipe, and a pirate chest) - he'll not be bored or lack places to hide in this tank! :

Thomas:

 

[Len]

The pics are hard to make out as you already recognize , but I'm guessing Thomas is an octopus, right?

 

[Black96WS6]

Correct!

As soon as he gets more comfortable I can turn the flash on (or at least some more lights nearby) and get some better shots, but it probably won't be for a few days...

 

[Len]

Is it a blue ring?! 8O

 

[Anonymous]

The avatar defintely is. The pic, although very blurry, looks like every O. bimaculatus I've ever seen. Where did you get him?

 

[Black96WS6]

Definitely not a blue ring! It's a bimac from OctoPets, they aqua culture them, and they're only 30 minutes from my house

Another thing I noticed, as soon as I put the octopus in the tank, there was a marked change in the behavior of the hermit crabs and shrimp in the tank. Even though most didn't actually see the octopus, they all did the same thing. Whereas before the crabs would be crawling all over the live rock, and the shrimp would be hiding in the back, now, the crabs are huddled together with the shrimp at the front of the tank (as far away from the octopus as possible, who is in the back), and the crabs are barely peeking out of their shells. Somehow, they must sense that he's in there with them. I almost feel sorry for them, kind of like how we might feel being trapped in a house knowing there's an alien from the movie Alien, Aliens, etc , in here somewhere 8O

The octopus came out this morning cruising around, I couldn't get my camera in time, but was able to snap a pic of the scared inhabitants! Here's a pic of them all huddling together:

 

[Anonymous]

Oh man, the hermit police are gonna be all over you Black...




:wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Thomas? Who names an octopus "Thomas"? :wink:

What size is his tank? Octopusss's fascinate me.

 

[HClH2OFish]

Thomas? Who names an octopus "Thomas"? :wink:

What size is his tank? Octopusss's fascinate me.

The correct plurality would be 'Ocotpiddles'

:wink:

 

[HClH2OFish]

Is that a 12gal Nanocube? I'm interested in what all you're doin to keep him from moving into the back compartments. These guys are *smart*

Oh, not sure if they have a size you could use, but Hellolights has in the clearance section a bulb that's a different wavelength of blue. They say it's good for eels, octopodes and such.

Good luck with him!

(...Thomas...hehehehehe....)

 

[Anonymous]

Is that a 12gal Nanocube? I'm interested in what all you're doin to keep him from moving into the back compartments. These guys are *smart*

Oh, not sure if they have a size you could use, but Hellolights has in the clearance section a bulb that's a different wavelength of blue. They say it's good for eels, octopodes and such.

Good luck with him!

(...Thomas...hehehehehe....)

Seriously? Like good for their health or something?

Oh, and fwiw, that is the correct plural of octopus

 

[HClH2OFish]

<grin> Octopodes is correct Although it is accepted in general speech to use octopii *shrug*

The lights are the 'Dayactinic' they have listed on clearance.

* Faint "dayactinic" looking bulb, simulates deeper water. If you light this up over your tank in complete darkness, it will look more blue than white in color.
* These were part of a large custom order, and originally sold for over $25 a bulb! High quality, brand NEW bulbs for $8.50!!!
* Nice 'faint white/blue light' if you are trying to keep any deepwater / lowlight animals like eels or octopus, this is an excellent bulb!
* We must emphasize that this bulb looks faint compared to a 10,000K, Blue 7,100K or Actinic 03 bulb. Stand alone, they are a nice light.
* There seems to be a hint of actinic type fluorescing, but nothing major.
* Works in any standard Straight Pin socket.
* One time purchase, once they're gone, we will never offer these again!

They've got a couplea varieties. Heck, the 36W bulb is only $8.50. If I had something in my 15 other than my damsel I'd think about it...

As far as if it's good for their health? Dunno, but seeing as the light isn't as bright, it sounds like the idea makes sense.

 

[HClH2OFish]

<...snip>

Oh, and fwiw, that is the correct plural of octopus

Yeah...but it's so much more fun to say Octopiddles... g'head and say it...it'll make you giggle.


Back to the little guy..how big is he and how old?
My LFS gets some aquacultured every once in a while from ASU (tank raised octopus in Arizona!)

I'm curious to see how he fares...please do keep us posted!

 

[Black96WS6]

It's a 30 gallon tall

This particular species (o.bimaculoides) is diurnal and is used to bright sunlight, so the lighting is fine.

We guesstimated him being between 2 and 3 months old, he's about as big as your hand with his arms extended.

I will definitely keep you updated! It was so cool this morning, he came out for no apparent reason and was exploring the tank. I was in too much shock and fascination that I just stood there staring at him instead of running for the camera! He came up to the glass and checked me out multiple times and flashed different colors at me, then went back to his den at the back of the aquarium. I was hoping he would choose the pirate chest as a home but, for now at least, he prefers his own cave he made by digging out the sand under a large piece of live rock in the back.

Here's a link with more info on him and where I got him from:
http://www.octopets.com/Merchant2/merch ... de=Octopet

 

[Anonymous]

Interesting. They only live a little over a year. You might want to keep the temperature as low as possible, so maybe you can squeeze a year and a half out of him. Higher temps mean shorter life spans, and this is a temperate species. Since it's a tidal animal, it must be used to temperature fluctuations, however....
The problem here is that, like any of our captive animals, we cannot guarantee success by following nature. We know from keeping reef fish/inverts/corals that the same rules do not always apply in our tanks.

Were I you, I would keep carbon running on this tank at all times, I would keep the temperature in the low 70's, I would not overfeed, and I would do weekly small partial waterchanges to replace lost minerals etc. removed by the carbon AND to keep nitrates low. Why? The carbon will prevent the octopussy from killing itself with it's own ink, but the carbon removes essential elements that he may require. I would assume so, like coral, anyways.. As for nitrates, I realize the website says you may let them get as high as 100ppm, however, reef animals have not evolved to deal with such toxins, and I don't see the point. Plus, this website IS trying to sell something. And trust me, I know ALL about sales tactics :mrgreen: Please use your common sense :evil:

That said, I know nothing about keeping octopussies, so please keep us informed as to your progress
Your experiences will be valuable to those of us who may wish to try keeping one of these fascinating creatures.

And dammit, take some good pics! :wink:

 

[GSchiemer]

The carbon will prevent the octopussy from killing itself with it's own ink...

While it may cause the tank to be temporarily cloudy, octopus "ink" is not toxic.

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

The carbon will prevent the octopussy from killing itself with it's own ink...

While it may cause the tank to be temporarily cloudy, octopus "ink" is not toxic.

Greg

Not chemically toxic, no, but it will coat the gills of an octopus and suffocate it in large enough quantities. I wouldn't chance it in a tank this size.

Also, trace elements are irrelevant in an octopus tank. They get all those things from their food, not from the water.

Point being, it will not hurt to overskim and run as much carbon as possible.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... invert.htm

 

[Black96WS6]

Well I'm happy to report Thomas is doing EXTREMELY well. He's already decimated my entire hermit crab population, and I can't find my shrimp or one of the fiddler crabs from Jim I dropped into the tank last night for him.

Now all I have to do is wait for him to get used to people (i.e. me :wink: )

I was able to snap a few photos, Thomas was curious about the camera and came over to the glass by his cave:

And here's another shot of him hanging out:

 

[Anonymous]

Just a hint--

They will be much more likely to interact with you if you feed him, rather than leave food in the tank for him. Kinda messed up, but starve him for 2 days. He'll be fine, trust me. Then feed him some live shrimp/crab with a pair of tongs. The point is to associate you with food.

 

[Anonymous]

The carbon will prevent the octopussy from killing itself with it's own ink...

While it may cause the tank to be temporarily cloudy, octopus "ink" is not toxic.

Greg

That's right, it's not "toxic". Do you want it in YOUR tank?
Hence, run carbon. I can give you a nice list of non-toxic things that I don't want in MY tanks.
Red slime, flatworms, high nitrates...octopus ink :mrgreen:


Here is a nice website for you to peruse, Black:

http://www.tonmo.com/cephcare/keepingce ... gcephs.php