Abdopus aculeatus available

[Gonodactylus]

The collectors in Indonesia must be working overtime. I just watched a local LRS unpack four large, very healthy Abdopus aculeatus. Unfortunately, every tank in my lab is full of blue-rings and stomatopods. If you are looking for a hardy, small to medium sized octopus that is day active with incredible displays and behavior, this is probably one of the best octopus to get.

Roy

 

[duc749r]

What store in the bay area is selling them? Thanks

 

[Gonodactylus]

Octopus's Garden in Berkeley.

 

[Thales]

New Alameda Aquatics in Alameda is supposed to get some in tomorrow.

 

[Coyle]

how large do these get? and what are they going for?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Abdopus aculteatus is a relatively small species. Mantle length usually is around 5 cm and maximum arm span around 30 cm. We keep ours in small research tanks, but I would recommend at least a 20 gal system. They are day active, are not prone to escaping, and feed well in captivity. I don't know the price, but they generally sell for $30-60. As I said before, I'm not trying to promote a particular shop, but right now with bimacs difficult to come by, this is probably the most ecological sound alternative - and one of the best aquarium speciies available. The only down side is that these animals are usually sold as adults and they only live a few more months. However, if you get a female, she has probably mated before capture and you can watch the brooding process which is fascinating in this species.



Roy

 

[Coyle]

Gono, thanks for the insight, would you recommend these over a briareus? that is what i was planning on getting to this point..i want something that will be active during the day, and the other things that you mentioned are lagniappe. the octo will be going in my 40g cube 20x20x24

 

[Gonodactylus]

Both would be appropriate. Behaviorally, I find A. aculeatus more interesting. O. briareus is more colorful although A. a can display some amazing textures.

Roy

 

[mucktopus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7877374#post7877374 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gonodactylus
Abdopus aculteatus is...not prone to escaping,

I'll have to disagree with this. They tend not to get out of the tanks in lab because the lids are a perfect fit, with weights on top. I'm sure we could both tell a few stories about their impressive attempts to walkabout from tanks in the field. I've seen one bypass a serious lid/cloth barrier and crawl down a flight of rock stairs to the ocean. Another crawled up an inflow tube (was it ever figured out how it reached it?). Of all the kinds of octos that have been kept in the lab since I started, I'd rank them as the most likely to try to escape. Perhaps these intertidal animals aren't as daunted by the air-sea interface as others, thinking a tidepool is going to be nearby?

 

[lexcanaves]

I live in South Florida. Would you know someone selling the o. aculeatus species around here?
Thanks in advance . :]

 

[Echidna09]

I am not in Florida, but most likely you will have to have one shipped to you. Also, FYI, Abdopus (Hence, A. Aculeatus)is the genus for this particular species, not Octopus (which would be O. Aculeatus).

 

[lexcanaves]

Thank you for the insight. I'll try that, although most websites I've seen are only carrying bimacs, dwarfs, blue-ring, or just "octopus". Hopefully I'll get lucky and find one because this seems to be the right temperament/size for me and my empty tank. :crosses fingers:

 

[tsermonet]

What is the requirement for the size of the tank.

 

[dreadhead119]

55 G is the recommended size for anything other than a dwarf.But with A. Aculeatus you may get by with a 40G,with adequate filtration.

 

[lexcanaves]

Gonodactylus quote: "Abdopus aculteatus is a relatively small species. Mantle length usually is around 5 cm and maximum arm span around 30 cm. We keep ours in small research tanks, but I would recommend at least a 20 gal system".

So it is safe to say that it would be comfortable in a 24g Nano Cube?

 

[Animal Mother]

So long as you have sufficient filtration and do regular water changes. Remember, Gonodactylus (Dr. Caldwell) has a professional facility.

The thing about smaller tanks is that the water fouls up a lot quicker. Doesn't leave much room for error.

 

[lexcanaves]

Hmmmm I'll have to look at the filter then. Regular water changes.... like 25% each week ? Or do you think more than that

 

[Animal Mother]

That would probably be okay. Don't want to do too much at once, might shift the water parameters too quickly.

 

[dreadhead119]

I do 10% every 4 to 5 days.

 

[lexcanaves]

10% sounds like it would work for the 24g. I'll try that. One more thing: when I clean the tank (scrape the glass, vacuum the sand, etc.) where do I put my Octopus? Sounds silly, but I wouldn't want to scare him/her to death and do it wrong.