LFS selling blue-ringed octopus

[cortez marine]

different species

different species

People,
The blue-ringed octopus, Hapalochlaena maculosa from Australia is the really toxic one. The deaths are from these and these are never seen in the trade as the Aussies don't ship them.

Hapalochlaena lunulata is the cheap one that shows up in the trade coming from Bali and Cebu in the Philippines. I have imported them for scientists many times [ but not for the general public].
These are lot less toxic and as I understand it.... and have produced no deaths.

Not seeing the difference in Hapalochlaena species seems a bit unscientific.
One size does not fit all...as in snakes and spiders....they are not all the same.
Steve

 

[GreshamH]

Steve, they were sold to the very scientist listed in this thread none the less

 

[ReefTECK]

I heard somewhere that of people who have actually been bitten by blue ring octopi the survival rate is less than 20%

 

[wld1783]

Certainly a neat animal, but nothing I would ever consider keeping for the reasons listed above. I think it's quite irresponsible for the LFS to have it displayed and for sale. If they had a customer specifically interested (and capable) of keeping one, I'd think that would be acceptable, though.

+1

Also given their short life span, any octopus in a captive reef is not what I like to see. By the time they're caught 6 months then morte...

Bill

 

[lordofthereef]

If the discussion was about a highly venomous snake I think people would argue against it more, possibly because it has the potential to "break free" and go on a killing rampage... as if snakes would really do that LOL. At the very least I think it is a huge liability for a store to be keeping/selling something like that. I know I wouldn't want the insurance risk.

 

[micrors4racer]

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.

King Aquarium? LOL we need to post a pic of the nautilus. Are the octopus you're talking about the one in the small clear pet containers inside the bigger tank?

 

[seabayaquatic]

Make sure your local hospital has an Iron Lung before you go ahead and buy it. Apparently you can't feel the bite, but you'll know it when you crap your pants, fall to the floor and loose the ability to breathe! Good luck!

 

[Sohal Tang Tim]

leave it in ocean

leave it in ocean

Personal opinion but I think that all octopus are better left in the ocean.

The blue ring...definitely should not be kept in captivity in a household thats for sure...maybe by a public aquarium with a fully certified marine biologist....other then that..notta....


Tim

 

[thebanker]

Buy it! Seriously, do it. Natural selection is a big part of evolution, and your death will push the evolution of the human race forward.

In fact, get a pet cobra too. Just in case the octopus doesn't do the trick.

 

[Sohal Tang Tim]

can you say

can you say

Can you say with your last breath, "damn...I should have listened" ????

hehehehehehehehe

Cobra not nasty enough...get a king brown......eeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwww
dead very quickly....we must be humane after all..hahaha


Tim

 

[matt the fiddler]

The thing is, the toxicity is likely not limited to it's bite. It is in the mucus on the animal.. and can likely reach any part of the system that touches the water supply. It's bite just breaks your skin so the mucus reaches your blood. There are other ways than being bit to have the poison reach you.

 

[billsreef]

The thing is, the toxicity is likely not limited to it's bite. It is in the mucus on the animal..

Matt,

Do you have a source for that? I've never heard of the toxin being in the mucous.

 

[biomekanic]

Ban the animal that has very few known documented cases of actually killing someone, but allow the purchase of firearms?

While not a fan of the NRA, guns don't actively try to escape from their cases. An octopus on the other hand, does.

 

[wrestle1952]

Keeping an octopus is a challenge regarding if it's a blue ring or not. They are known to escape throught the tiniest of crevices and end up on the floor dried up. Keeping something that can kill you is an even bigger reason to avoid such animals.

 

[Sohal Tang Tim]

blue ringed not great idea

blue ringed not great idea

Although they are incredibly gorgeous animals and I think the
most interesting critter in the ocean.....their life span is so short
I dont know why anyone would really want to try to keep one....
What a year and a half or something in wild under premium conditions???

What chance in aquarium....not great odds...

The deadly part is just not necessary there are too many non deadly
items to keep......

to each their own though....opinions *will* vary


Tim

 

[BlueFaceAngel]

how much?

 

[jumpingintosalt]

Call me crazy but I wouldn't risk it they are GORGEOUS animals!