Dwarf octopus in a 6 gal?

[Clownfish29]

Hello,
I'm, sure this tank is way too small for them. So i don't want to be flamed for asking this. I know dwarf octos are hard to keep, but my tank is very mature of a nanocube, set up for a year. Never had any fish, just some zoo's, shrooms, torch, and other coral. About 10 lbs of LR. I just have a chance to buy one, and where they are selling them, it says you can keep them in a 5 gal. I would do water changed once a week, more if necessary. I just need to know if it is possible. Then i'd do everYthing i can to research. I kknow they aren't active, just looking for something neat to put in the tank, i dont want fish in it, most get too big. So, can i keep a dwarf octo in a 6 gal?

 

[Animal Mother]

Don't do it. 30 gallons would be best. You can keep a Great Dane in a closet. Doesn't make it right. They need room explore, and water would need to be changed more like daily in a tank that small. Cephalopods make A LOT of waste and need 3 times the filtration of your average system.

They are active, but only in the dark.

Torch corals have a potent stinging ability. And there would not be sufficient room to move around a coral like that for the octopus. In the ocean they have pretty unlimited space to avoid things like that. They touch everything and their skin is not protective. They like to learn their surroundings and put their armtips into things. It would not be wise to combine the two.

 

[Clownfish29]

Thanks for the response. I think the secret to success in a tank as small as mine is no fish, and therefore no bio load. I would not want to jeopardize that, as my tank is really coming along. I figured that the tank was very small for the octopus, i've also wanted one but now do not have the space. Maybe down the road a little ill set up something bigger, until then, nanos are best

 

[gholland]

A 6 gallon would not be a good idea. We kept a dwarf octo in an 8 gallon as a temporary measure while trying to resolve issues with a larger tank. She layed eggs soon after and so we ended up not wanting to move her. Even though she barely ate, we had constant problems with water quality. The few times she came out before laying eggs, she had almost no room to move around and I definitely wouldn't do this again. The 30-gallon is a much better recommendation. A 20-gallon with higher filtration and frequent water changes is possible, but I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than that.

 

[saltman123]

Add a cleaner shrimp, or blood shrimp to the tank if you want some activity I have a 12 gallon nano for over 2 years now and 1 clown, and everything is still cool. I am even holding a second clown for my bro while he moves and his tank finishes re-cycling.

I sure would love an octo, but don't have the time to do water changes let alone hand feed an octo, maybe one day

 

[genzod66]

what about a super small octo in one of those acrilic round cylinder aquariums by ocean treasures,like the tiki,they are 5 gallons,but have no corals,just the octo,they have a closed lid and are round,the lfs had a small octo in one,it seemed fine was eating,is that possible?

 

[gholland]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13794014#post13794014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by genzod66
what about a super small octo in one of those acrilic round cylinder aquariums by ocean treasures,like the tiki,they are 5 gallons,but have no corals,just the octo,they have a closed lid and are round,the lfs had a small octo in one,it seemed fine was eating,is that possible?

It's doubtful that you would be able to acquire anything much smaller than O. mercatoris.

Could you keep one in a 5 gallon? Maybe... for a little while. The better question to ask yourself is SHOULD you keep one in a 5 gallon? I wouldn't recommend it personally. You could probably live in a closet, but you would't have any room to move around and you would quickly foul the place up. You would much rather have some space to move that didn't get fouled up so quickly.

I have two adult O. mercatoris that I've raised from eggs in a 20 gallon and that seems to work fine, but I wouldn't go any smaller, even with just one.

 

[genzod66]

well,the space is that of a ten gallon,cause of the cylinder,the lfs,who im personal friends with did it for a while,it was tiny though,its got a great lid,ive been growing acro,and i can def. handle the husbandry?

 

[Animal Mother]

Kept mine in a 10 gallon for a month. It NEVER came out of its den. Not even to eat. It would wait on a crab to walk directly in front of its den. Put it back in a critter keeper, into the community tank, and out and about it went back to its normal activities.

Wasted a month of its life, time I could have been enjoying it.

Why not go with the suggested size and get a couple of them?

 

[genzod66]

would 20 gal bre enough for the mercatoris 2 of them?what kind of tank?how about the 12 gallon nano cube?

 

[Animal Mother]

I have two adult O. mercatoris that I've raised from eggs in a 20 gallon and that seems to work fine, but I wouldn't go any smaller, even with just one.