LFS selling blue-ringed octopus

borillion_star

borillion_star

New member
LFS near here is selling a blue-ringed octopus, any thoughts? Im interested in getting one. Is that a stupid choice?

blue_ringed_octopus.jpg
 
Mishandle it and it has the potential to kill you. Literally.

It has a neurotoxin that can cause paralysis, numbness, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and ultimately kill you.
 
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There's been a lot of discussion of this topic in the Cephalopod forum here on RC in which Dr. Roy Caldwell has chimed in.

Without editorializing, I'd encourage anyone thinking of owning one of these animals to read what Dr. Caldwell has to say.
 
Outside of the whole they can kill you thing, not really a good choice as a pet. The whole life cycle is a little longer than a year. You could do everything right, and if it is an adult still have a dead octopus due to age.
 
Isn't it a shame that some of the most beautiful and interesting creatures out there can kill us? As tempting as I imagine this is, IMO its just not worth it. I'm sure you'd agree if you could see yourself dying in the hospital. Not to be graphic or morbid like that, but you have to keep a thought like that in mind when you take on a responsibility like this. Just like people who keep poisonous snakes...
 
I'm not too worried about getting bitten. The life span of a year doesn't make it worth keeping.

Another thing is I have no idea where this Guy gets his stuff. He has a chambered Nautilus on sale too LOL. Thought those where deep sea creatures. It kinda just hovers there in the sales tank.
 
Doesn't sound to me like he's into promoting tanks his customers can keep long term so much as he's into making a quick buck. JMO.
 
There is a blue ringed octopus mimic I remember reading about. Is it possible that this is not real?
 
I think a responsible person could keep this and be in no harms way. We,re talking no in the tank maintenance without bite proof gloves and sleeves and a completely covered tank. Is it worth it since it will only live a short time. Probably not unless you're doing research that will benefit man and/or animal. Beautiful? Yes. But only when ****ed. That leads me to think that a normal hobbyist would provoke him to actually get to see the beauty. Not a good idea and probably pretty stressful on the animal. There are many other beautiful interesting animals that would be more worth it and wouldn't be just a temporary vacant in your tank.
 
dipan said:
There is a blue ringed octopus mimic I remember reading about. Is it possible that this is not real?
Click to expand...

The real deal (there are several species) is routinely available on wholesale lists, cheap :(

garzaci said:
I think a responsible person could keep this and be in no harms way.
Click to expand...

There's always going to be a chance of an accident, so if one attempts such a thing they must always consider themselves at risk for a bite.
 
I guess there's always a risk. Everything has a risk. But is it an acceptable risk? And how much risk is it? If kept in a proper tank, the only possible time for a bit is during maintenance. And if hands or other body parts aren't put in the tank then that risk is minimized as well. Scientists have done research on these animals numerous times. Whensa the last time you turned on Fox News and saw headlines about a scientist being killed by a blue ring octopus? Am I recommending this as a pet? No. But can it be kept relatively safely and without much more if any more risk than keeping other venemous fish etc? Yes.
 
garzaci said:
I guess there's always a risk. Everything has a risk. But is it an acceptable risk? And how much risk is it? If kept in a proper tank, the only possible time for a bit is during maintenance. And if hands or other body parts aren't put in the tank then that risk is minimized as well. Scientists have done research on these animals numerous times. Whensa the last time you turned on Fox News and saw headlines about a scientist being killed by a blue ring octopus? Am I recommending this as a pet? No. But can it be kept relatively safely and without much more if any more risk than keeping other venemous fish etc? Yes.
Click to expand...

The risk is Death. Should you get bit, the only chance of survival is having someone there at the time than can call 911 and keep you alive (mouth to mouth and possibly CPR) until the paramedics arrive and get you to the hospital and put on life support. There is no antidote, so only treatment is life support till the venom breaks down. That's a pretty hefty risk IMO.

They are relatively docile, but than you still need to consider the risk. Yes, there are researchers that work with these. Lab protocals that I'm aware of call for no one to work alone with them (this includes simply being in the same room as the Blue Rings are housed), and the other person must be trained in what to do. BTW, I'm not so sure such a bite would make the news any more than someone getting bit by a pet venomous snake.
 
billsreef said:
The risk is Death. Should you get bit, the only chance of survival is having someone there at the time than can call 911 and keep you alive (mouth to mouth and possibly CPR) until the paramedics arrive and get you to the hospital and put on life support. There is no antidote, so only treatment is life support till the venom breaks down. That's a pretty hefty risk IMO.

They are relatively docile, but than you still need to consider the risk. Yes, there are researchers that work with these. Lab protocals that I'm aware of call for no one to work alone with them (this includes simply being in the same room as the Blue Rings are housed), and the other person must be trained in what to do. BTW, I'm not so sure such a bite would make the news any more than someone getting bit by a pet venomous snake.
Click to expand...

I do remember Dr. Caldwell in an earlier thread on these animals stating that in his lab, SOP is that no one is allowed to work with the blue rings alone.
 
between the octopus and the nautilus i would not support this lfs. Sounds like theyre just trying to make a buck. Personally, I'd probably state my opinion and they'd show me the door. It's happened before. If youre a grown up i think you could get a blue ringed octopus. i think that some regular aquarists. can provide it with quality care. the nautilus is another story. I think that difficult animals should be special ordered. They shouldn't just be available in a tank where inexperienced aquarists can get there hands on them without researching them first.
 
extremely poisonous

extremely poisonous

The Blue Ringed Octopus is, by far, one of the most poisonous animals
on the planet.....it is a major unnecessary risk to keep one and very, very,
desperate and irresponsible of the LFS to even carry one or bring in.

How many people said "no worries" about keeping different items in the tank
thinking they wont get bit or stung and just FORRRGOTTTTT the item was
there and just had to clean that one spot etcetc inside the tank.....

If this animal bites you, you have *minutes* to live with NO ANTIDOTE AVAILABLE for
it's poison...meaning THERE IS NO ANTIDOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It carries enough venom to KILL 26 men... 10,000 times more toxic then cyonide!
Sure..keep one of those? Some people just dont know..... kills a man in 90 minutes!!!!!!
Here is a video of why NOT to buy this animal http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=403

DONT BUY IT is my strongggg recommendation.....

REPORT THE STORE because it might be illegal bringing that item in even.

Tim
 
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