New here. Please don't flame me?

[predatory_orca]

Hi Guys,

Ok, here it is, the dumbest question ever. Can a golf ball sized octopus be kept in a 2.5 gallon pico reef if it's the only creature in there aside from LR and corals? I hear they have really short life spans, and I have been searching high and low for a small, interesting creature to occupy my 2.5 gallon. I would like it to be set up as a pico reef anyway, was going to put a little LR, some Arag Alive LS, a 70 watt metal halide if I go reef, if not a reef... is a mini octo even a possibility for a tank this small? Please, don't flame, I've never had an octo, and am genuinely curious. I bought one of those reptile type screens made of solid metal, not that fine wire mesh crap, to keep whatever I stick in the tank inside. The tank will be filtered either solely by the LR and LS, or also by a second 2.5 set up as a sump. Am looking into the cost of having it drilled now. Waste of money and I must be crazy you say? No... I just love adorably cute mini things. Either real small, or real big, I'm not an average-liking type of person. Anyhow, thankyou in advance for any info.

 

[hnf2k]

definetly. i think you should get 3.

 

[OctoMonkey]

*not a flame*

...but not a chance. Your tank needs to be about 20 times bigger for even a dwarf... have a read at back posts, there is a lot of advice about tank sizes and filtration and why small tanks wont work

cheers
Colin

 

[predatory_orca]

Thankyou OctoMonkey,

hnf2k, if you can't be constructive, then don't reply please. Even I in my complete cephalopod (sp?) ignorance, know 3 is sarcasm on your part and nothing more.

 

[hnf2k]

how old are you?

 

[sdm]

predatory_orca, if you are serious about cephs, I would recommend looking at tonmo.com... Plenty of threads on this particular subject there, among other useful information.

BTW, I agree with Colin 100%

 

[predatory_orca]

sdm,

Thanks for the info, I have them book marked, and am going to check the site out later this evening.

hnf2k's,

what's your problem? I really don't see how my age is relevant to anything. If you continue with non-constructive posts, you won't get a reply at all in the future.

 

[maxvan1]

octo. are mostly water ( 80-90% i think i read?) and in a 2.5 even a tiny spike would cause it to die... (because they are mostly water.) so, i say get a 30G if you want one...

good luck

 

[predatory_orca]

Thankyou Max,

But my research on the Octo was to determine what I could and could not keep a few weeks ago in my current set up. Learning that the Octo wasn't an option, I elected to use the 2.5 for dwarf sea horses, and that will be a future project. In the mean time, my 10 gallon is getting corals added this week.

 

[jokermgp]

Ummm...Orca...not to bust your bubble, but have you read up on seahorses? I've kept them and at best they are a challenge. The dwarf seahorse require live food at all times. Are you prepared to provide them that?

You can have plenty of interesting movement in a pico tank with softcorals and small shrimp.

Good luck...and...cheers...Michael :beer:

 

[predatory_orca]

Hi Michael,

Yes, I have red up on dwarves on seahorse.org, here, and at nano-reef.com, I have also purchased Abott's book, and it should arrive within 2 weeks. I am well aware of their feeding requirements, but thankyou for your concern. However, most corals I would want to keep will not work for dwarves due to flow, lighting and filtration needs. I am going to go with dyed and dried corals for the pico for hitching posts. Also, shrimp aren't an option for dwarves with me. The only tank mates the dwarves will be getting are snails for algae cleaning, and limpets for potential hydroid elimination. I am looking at non-predatory options for a clean up crew also that will aid in eating excess bbs. You aren't busting any bubbles, I am researching well in advance of buying. Thanks for caring.

 

[Scalare102079]

Just a side note, those metal screens will eventually start to rust out. To go along with what most others are saying, do not forget that most octo species are extremely active as well. if i were you as well, the dwarfs will fair better for you in your ten than in your 2.5, save that for babies if you get them to breed (that isn't too hard). Good luck! keep up in your research, that will prove valuable.

 

[predatory_orca]

Thanks guys for all the imput, but I decided a long time ago (as this thread is -old-) against going with an octopus. Besides, the one I really want is the one I really don't need to have, especially with a VERY curious toddler that likes to vex animals, and a boy expected to be born in late January. A home with two young children is no place for a blue ring. As for the dwarves in a 10 gallon, I really have to disagree on that issue, as unless I keep a real big herd of dwarf seahorses (which I don't intend to. 2-5 pairs at most.), their food will escape them too easily. Abott (a dwarf seahorse expert) says I can happily house up to 5 pair in the 2.5 gallon and still be in safe parameters for food density issues. Besides, I like my 10 as a nano reef, and the whole idea with starting this thread was to find something for hte 2.5 specifically. But enough of my prattle, the cepholapod forum is not hte place to discuss seahorse husbandry.