Few questions from a newbie

[mswt5]

What temp does a Bimaculoides need to survive......Ive seen several different temps recommended.
And low temps are hard to keep here in Texas unless you have a chiller and those are just ridiculously expensive. Are there any easy beginner recommended tropical spieces of octopus?

 

[cephalopoder]

A temp 75 on averge will be ok. It can handle up to 79 but it shortens their life span due to faster growth.
Short durations of this temp is ok but ideally you want to be down in the low 70s most of the time or even lower down to 64. For tropical species you could try the bali octopus from ff express.

 

[mswt5]

Im looking for one that wont get too big......hed be going into a 30 gal tank. In one of your other posts you say that when they say bali it could being a number of different species. How would I know what I was getting and how big it would get? I really dont like the idea of getting something and guessing.
There is a ton of info out there about caring for octopi in general but no specific info for certain species.

 

[cephalopoder]

How would I know what I was getting and how big it would get? I really dont like the idea of getting something and guessing.

You need to learn to ID them yourself. Thats the only guarente of what you get. There are places that you can order from that increase the odds of what you get , but no real valid source other than good research work and calling places. The most desired species being O.bimaculoides or bimac. There are a few places that
know how to ID that species

Hower all places that order octopus have it hanging around till some one asks if they have a octopus and then it is sold as octopus. Scientific names and the ability to ID them is still new to the the aquarium trade.
chris

 

[mswt5]

Is there a place I can go to get info on different species and learn how to id them?....website....good book or something?

 

[cephalopoder]

Well You can go to ceph base, the cephalopod page and back search of this forum and tonmo.com A good book is cephalopods a world guide by conch books. I think starting at the beginning of the forum and reading though is a ton of info. Lots of pics and most questions answerd before.