Blue ringed octopus

[clint conway]

They are easy to aquire and not illegal to import. Should they be kept in the home aquarium, "I don't know". It all depends on the collector. There are many collectors of all animals. Venemous reptiles are kept all over the states by irresponsible collectors along with collectors that are proffesionals and very knowlegable. In my opinion you should need permits to keep this animal but you don't. Anyone with an importer exporter license can bring this animal into the states. As matter of fact they don't even have to be listed on the cities permits. These creatures are stunning and very intelligent but why not settle with a zebra or mimic octopus. They are now available and amazing to watch. They also have stunning colors to them. I've had one now for 1 1/2 years and it is always amazing me with new behaviors. Awesome thread everyone.

 

[Jeff]

Where is the line to get in to over react? Oh, here it is .

 

[Brock Fluharty]

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Also known as CITES.

So why would the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora prevent someone from owning a blue-ring?

 

[shovel]

sorry i often type drunk, and seeing how it is aperntly not illeagel to own a blue ring I am giong to my lfs and ording one this afternoon! esspically befre prop669 takes effect

 

[Gonodactylus]

Just to be clear, CITES lists no octopus on Appendices I, II or III. Hapalochlaena are not afforded any protection by CITES international agreements.

Prohibition of import into the U.S. would come if the country of origin regulated export. If the animals are legally exported, the U.S. will allow Hapalochlaena to enter the country.

Roy

 

[Gonodactylus]

Here is the text of the relevant U.S. Fish and Wildlife regulations:

§ 16.13 Importation of live or dead fish,
mollusks, and crustaceans, or their
eggs.
(a) Upon an exporter filing a written
declaration with the District Director
of Customs at the port of entry as required
under § 14.61 of this chapter, live
or dead fish, mollusks, and crustaceans,
or parts thereof, or their
gametes or fertilized eggs, may be imported,
transported, and possessed in
VerDate Aug<31>2005 10:19 Oct 26, 2005 Jkt 205216 PO 00000 Frm 00103 Fmt 8010 Sfmt 8010 Y:\SGML\205216.XXX 205216
94
§ 16.13 50 CFR Ch. I (10â€"œ1â€"œ05 Edition)
captivity without a permit except as
follows:
(1) No such live fish, mollusks, crustacean,
or any progency or eggs thereof
may be released into the wild except by
the State wildlife conservation agency
having jurisdiction over the area of release
or by persons having prior written
permission from such agency.
(2) The importation, transportation,
or acquisition of any of the species listed
in this paragraph is prohibited except
as provided under the terms and
conditions set forth in § 16.22:
(i) Live fish or viable eggs of walking
catfish, family Clariidae;
(ii) Live mitten crabs, genus
Eriocheir, or their viable eggs;
(iii) Live mollusks, veligers, or viable
eggs of zebra mussels, genus Dreissena;
and
(iv) Any live fish or viable eggs of
snakehead fishes of the genera Channa
and Parachanna (or their generic synonyms
of Bostrychoides, Ophicephalus,
Ophiocephalus, and Parophiocephalus) of
the Family Channidae, including but
not limited to:
(A) Channa amphibeus (Chel or Borna
snakehead).
(B) Channa argus (Northern or Amur
snakehead).
(C) Channa asiatica (Chinese or
Northern Green snakehead).
(D) Channa aurantimaculata.
(E) Channa bankanensis (Bangka
snakehead).
(F) Channa baramensis (Baram
snakehead).
(G) Channa barca (barca or tiger
snakehead).
(H) Channa bleheri (rainbow or jewel
snakehead).
(I) Channa cyanospilos (bluespotted
snakehead).
(J) Channa gachua (dwarf, gaucha, or
frog snakehead).
(K) Channa harcourtbutleri (Inle
snakehead).
(L) Channa lucius (shiny or splendid
snakehead).
(M) Channa maculata (blotched
snakehead).
(N) Channa marulius (bullseye,
murrel, Indian, great, or cobra
snakehead).
(O) Channa maruloides (emperor
snakehead).
(P) Channa melanoptera.
(Q) Channa melasoma (black
snakehead).
(R) Channa micropeltes (giant, red, or
redline snakehead).
(S) Channa nox.
(T) Channa orientalis (Ceylon or Ceylonese
Green snakehead).
(U) Channa panaw.
(V) Channa pleurophthalmus (ocellated,
spotted, or eyespot snakehead).
(W) Channa punctata (dotted or spotted
snakehead).
(X) Channa stewartii (golden
snakehead).
(Y) Channa striata (chevron or striped
snakehead).
(Z) Parachanna africana (Niger or African
snakehead).
(AA) Parachanna insignis (Congo,
square-spotted African or light African
snakehead).
(BB) Parachanna obscura (dark African,
dusky, or square-spotted
snakehead

 

[seventhz]

Here is something interesting... I just called around to some LFS asking about acquiring a pigmy octo and one of their reps replied by saying "What kind are you looking for? Like a blue ring?" So to my surprise, apparently they are easy to acquire, even in Tulsa, OK. What I found as equally interesting is that the same rep told me that they stopped ordering octos from their supplier because they kept sending them females holding eggs knowing damn well that the octo was going to die soon. Just thought that I'd add that for interest... and honestly, the more that we talk about them and now that I know that they are available in Tulsa... I'm actually considering aquiring one:beachbum: Who knows though, maybe I'll choose something else just as cute and not as lethal

 

[Gonodactylus]

This is part of the problem. You can find blue-rings on many species lists coming out of Indonesia and the Philippines. The wholesale price is often under $10, so even if half of them die before they can be sold retail, there is profit to be made. I often order two dozen at a time and usually have to wait only a week or two for the order to be filled.

Roy

 

[sacremon]

Looking over that list of proscribed species, they would all appear to be ones that have at one time or another become invasive species in North American waters, killing off native species or causing other problems (zebra mussels I think were clogging power plant intakes on the Great Lakes as well as supplanting native species). None of them are venomous or poisonous, near as I can recall.

 

[Koshmar]

Would it be possible for a blue ring to become invasive relative to U.S. waters?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Other animals from the same habitats have, so it is certainly possible.

Roy

 

[Brock Fluharty]

Conditions would have to be pretty darn near exact to its native waters. Cephalopods are more sensitive than most fish. I also think that the short life-span might inhibit the invasiveness, but I could be wrong.

 

[shovel]

there would most likley be a need for several blue rings to be relesed into the wild for the chances of survival since their size makes them easy prey targets. but i would say if relesed into the carriben it could happen

 

[Gonodactylus]

Most H. lunulata shipped into the U.S. are sexually mature adults and many have mated and the females carry the sperm of one or more males. We get females laying fertilized eggs weeks after arriving in the lab and with no contact with males. Were such a female released, she easily could reproduce. However, with planktonic larvae, it is unlikely that her offspring would ever encounter another blue-ring. However, were a big-egged species with demersal larvae successfully brood, her offspring would probably remain in the area and could breed. There would be the problem of inbreeding, but inbreeding is not an automatic death sentence and many successful colonizations start with a single female carrying the sperm of one or more males reproducing.

Big egged species such as H. fasciatus occur over a fairly wide range of temperate conditions that are similar to those found in the southeastern U.S. It is conceivable that an introduction could occur.

Roy

 

[sacremon]

I think for species to make it on that list, not only does it need to be an invasive species, but it needs to have some economic impact as a result of the invasion. Snakeheads and walking catfish kill food fishes. The mitten crab can damage rice crops. zebra muscles can clog industrial water intakes and lead to high pollutant levels in fish that eat them.

What would be the economic impact of H. fasciatus becoming entrenched in US waters?

 

[Brock Fluharty]

Roy simply said that an introduction could occur. Not necessarily an invasion.

 

[Koshmar]

The only problem is you won't know for sure until it actually happens. I was just curious to see if it would survive. If it ever does happen I bet it will be off the Florida coast. It's always Florida...

 

[stumpovrtyme]

blue ring

blue ring

Im not sure if they would survive or not but Im amazed you can even get them considering there one of the most poisones creatures on the planet. I also think that why there so cheap because who really want something that could kill you? Yea it would be awsome to have one but could you really enjoy it? you coulndt touch it or interact with it which is sort of the allure of the octopuss. I look at it like this an moorish idol is fairly cheap but most reefer and aquarists dont buy them cause they dont live. So you make them cheaper to keep people wanting them same as the octo. Well I might die or it might but its only $20.00.

 

[t4zalews]

someone should man up and get one so we can see pictures

 

[shovel]

have had one for two weeks now it is doing well in own tank, sorry dont do pictures but trust me it was worth the tweny eight bucks.