Blue Ring

There are only a handful (5)of documented cases where an individual was killed by a blue-ring. Those deaths were caused by at least three different species. Our research shows that there is considerable variation by species, population and individual regarding how much TTX an individual contains. This can vary according to age, sex, time in captivity, etc. Furthermore, the delivery system of the TTX is passive. The venom is not injected so a bite may deliver no venom or quite a bit. Given that it isn't possible to know in advance how much TTX a bite would deliver, it is best to treat all blue-rings with respect.

TTX usually does not affect heart muscle, so no heart machine. Ventilation is often required, however.

Roy
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13313744#post13313744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gonodactylus
There are only a handful (5)of documented cases where an individual was killed by a blue-ring. Those deaths were caused by at least three different species. Our research shows that there is considerable variation by species, population and individual regarding how much TTX an individual contains. This can vary according to age, sex, time in captivity, etc. Furthermore, the delivery system of the TTX is passive. The venom is not injected so a bite may deliver no venom or quite a bit. Given that it isn't possible to know in advance how much TTX a bite would deliver, it is best to treat all blue-rings with respect.

TTX usually does not affect heart muscle, so no heart machine. Ventilation is often required, however.

Roy
Click to expand...

Well said
 
here's a new pic
0728082049-00.jpg
 
beautiful animal puka. I have always wanted to keep one. I have had great luck with other octopi and have extensive experience with wild collected poison dart frogs( one adult Phylobates terribelis has enough betrachotoxin on its skin to kill 12 adult men) . I think i might be ready to include on of these in my hobby. I would keep him in a system that was plumbed into my main display such that it could share water volume with my sps reef/sump/fuge. I am curious, how much space does yours have? I was thinking that the small size f the animal would mean it could do alright in a 5-10 gallon tank with proper hiding spaces if the tank was plumbed into the main system
 
I would not discurouge from this octopus being kept as a pet. Yes it is deadly... but it is not imposible to keep it in a tank. People keep octopus all the time without them escaping... just because it is venomous does not mean it will escape any easier than any other octopus!
I do however discurouge it from being kept as a pet from someone who does not understand how to protect themselfs from potentialy dangerous pets. As with any venemous/poisonous pet you have to know how to treat it and take the proper precautions around it. All it takes is a little respect for its harmful potential and it could make a great addition to any household!
Would I place the tank it is housed in in my kids bedroom or playroom? Heavens no, but I see no problem with my kids being able to enter the room it was in as long as I was there!
I say this cause I had one many years ago. I had it for roughly 12-15 months (been a while cant tell you exactly how long) without any problems in my bedroom. I just made sure it was in an "octopus proof" tank.

I would advise you that if you put one in a system plummed into your main display that you make every effort to make sure the wholes in your plumming were so small that a almost nothing can get through. Octopus are escape artists. The least amount of plumming in and out of the tank is best for a tank housing a potentialy leathal octopus!
 
and i forgot to say that what cmlloveless said is true also. If an octopus wants to escape it will so make sure you tank all the precaution that you can before getting one. A blue ring is a very nice lil octopus hehe
 
Back in the 70's I worked at a LFS. I held one in the palm of my hand. I did not know how deadly they were. I'm very thankful it did not bite me. I became an advocate to make sure the wholesalers informed the retailers.
 
i was the one that was bitten by one

it did not belong to me, but a friend

he still has it now

all that happened was i turned up at the hospital, a bit of panic, then they said they could see nothing wrong with me at all and they kept me in for 3 days as a precaution

they are dangerous, i was bitten out of total stupidity on my part and it has taught me these things are beautiful, but deserve so much more respect than anyone on here could give to them

for that reason they should stay in the ocean
 
Curious about the bite. What species bit you? Usually the only species available in the US is the greater blue-ring, Hapaloschlaena lunulata, the species on which we have done most of our work. Some individuals of this species have almost no TTX - but there is considerable variation from individual to individual.

Where did this happen? I see you are in the UK.

Was blood drawn by the bite?

Did you apply any immediate first aid? (pressure immobilization is recommended)

Keeping you in hospital for three days is a bit strange. Symptoms, if they are going to occur, usually show up quickly (minutes to hours) and subside in a day.

Roy
 
Puka your insane that very cool you have one though. How long have you had it? Is it as curious and playfull as most octi are?
 
Yea i have had the blue ring for a good year and a half and its very active. Always moving around and flashing the blue ring and very nice to look at.
 
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